CURRENT MISSION

See the world through other people's eyes

ABOUT ME

Ciao everyone!
I am a graduate student, teacher, and researcher at George Mason University. I have grown up outside Washington, DC so I was raised to appreciate diversity and culture.
As a member of the Church of the Brethren I have been all over the United States doing volunteer work and I have recently decided to expand my horizons.
Two years ago I traveled to Portugal for two weeks to spread solidarity and gender equality. While I was there I met great people from all over and was introduced to Couch Surfing.
In less than a month I will be heading off to France and Switzerland for another two weeks of volunteer work. Whenever I go on these trips I never know what I will be doing, but am always happy to help in any way I can!
Instead of coming back to the states directly after, I have decided to fulfill my dream to see Italy! I mean, I will be just north so it would be silly not to! I will be in Italy for 2 weeks (from June 14-30) and am currently looking into Ph.D. programs and where I will be visiting.
I would like to stay with couch surfers while I am in Italy because I think it will give me a much better indication of what each place is like than staying in a hotel with other foreigners. I want to learn the culture, the LANGUAGE, and the foods and wines!
I am still working on organizing my trip. My only definite stop will be Rome, as I am flying out of there and plan to visit Sapienza. I will be visiting other universities as well, but this is my top choice!

My life goals, in a nutshell:
1. finish my Master's program
2. earn a doctorate in Italy
3. become a professor and researcher
4. travel the world and pick my favorite place to settle down
5. adopt the children that are hard to place (siblings, older children, problem children, and special needs) ... I guess at some point I'll need to find that special someone to help out =)
6. find out something amazing through research that will help society and win a Nobel Prize for it (A girl can dream)

I am very open-minded about everything. I am slow to anger and quick to apologize. I believe in smiling on bad days, knowing that things will always get better.

If you let me stay with you, I promise that I am clean, trustworthy, helpful, caring, lots of fun, and yearning to hear all the stories you have! I would also appreciate some help on my Italian!
Hope to meet you all soon! =)

PHILOSOPHY

I am curious. God put me here with a puzzle in my head, so I'm going to spend my whole life trying to figure it out.

I am passionate. If you are not putting in the best you can you will regret not living your life to the fullest later.

I am giving. You can't take it with you when you die. My friends and family mean everything to me and I would do anything for them. When you become my friend you'll understand what I mean! =)

I am open. I prefer the truth to lies, no matter what. I am the shoulder to lean on. I keep my promises. You can tell me anything and it will always stay between you and me. No judgement, just great advice.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I live with my parents right now, so I can't offer space to host anyone.
If you want to see DC I would be happy to take you out to see the museums and sights. If you like to dance I would be happy to take you out to a club!
When I have my own place it will be open to my fellow couch surfers!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

CouchSurfing has been an amazing experience. I love that I could stay with people that know the area, language, and culture and were willing to share all those things with me. My favorite part is pulling out a map and having a local circle spots that I have to see. For example, while I was in Rome I had been told to check out one gellato shop, but my host insisted that it was a tourist trap and redirected me to another spot where I stood in a line that stretched out the door behind priests.

Interests

Fun: Doing anything outside, listening to music, playing my violin, dancing like crazy, reading great novels, spending time with friends and family, trying new things

Professional: I love teaching and currently teach undergraduate courses. I am also doing research in brain functioning in terms of our sense of hearing. I hope to help those with hearing disabilities that are not currently helped by today's technology and learn all I can about the brain.

• culture
• books
• dancing
• clubbing
• flying
• shopping
• technology
• reading
• traveling
• volunteer work
• music
• violin
• surfing
• teaching
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorites? Please don't ask me to narrow it down!

It's a shorter list to say what I don't like:
horror movies
heavy rock
hateful/ignorant books

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Asking me to narrow this down to one is like asking my favorite music, movie, or book! Amazing things happen everyday, and I am sure the best is yet to come.

Teach, Learn, Share

Live a good life.
Be kind to your neighbor AND enemy.
Forgive those who hurt you. Grudges are a waste of evergy that could be spent on positive things.
Stop fighting over who has the right interpretation about what is God's word... us humans will never be able to comprehend something so great, so stop trying to figure it out! Leave your life in His hands and we will have all the answers when we are in heaven!!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Portugal

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, United States

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