I am a single parent of a 16 year old boy. I am freelance writer/grant writer and poet. I work mostly from home. A student at Rutger's University for continuing studies, studying Nonprofit Management. I enjoy helping people and the exchange of learning from each other.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am looking to meet new people from different parts of the USA and Countries all over the world. I have traveled extensively in the USA and look forward to traveling in Europe.

Interests

I love to cook for friends. I like listening to music, my son sometimes will play something on his keyboard for me. I'm usually reading a book , working on a poem, or short story. I've recently taken up learning new languages, German and Italian.

• writing
• books
• cooking
• exercise
• walking
• reading
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• zip-line
• swimming
• freelancing
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Star Wars, I'm open to listening to all music. I'll read pretty much anything. I'm currently reading Spare Room Tycoon by James Chan, Bargaining for Advantage by G. Richard Shell and Stephen King's On Writing.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In 2002 I was in a near death accident, I was 27 years old . I broke numerous body parts, damaged my whole left side of my body and needed reconstructive surgery on my left knee and calf. I was in the hospital for a month, bedridden for a year and had to learn how to walk again. I went from a wheelchair to a walker then a quad cane, a regular cane and finally to walking on my own. My doctors had me on 15 different pain medications, 80mg of OxyContin, fentanyl Patches, Porvigal, Neurontin , Seroquel eat..including a Morphine Pump (which was placed inside my body) for ten years. I had no quality of life, I just existed. I became my very own pharmacy. Until I decided I was going to be the judge of my mind and body. I started slowly detoxing my body from all the medications. Which was no easy feat to accomplish, I went through withdrawals after withdrawals before being able to function without the pain medications. I finally had my Morphine Pump taken out of my body in March of 2015. I can happily say I am pharmaceuticaly drug free. Now my life is consistent with regular exercise. I go hiking, swimming, biking riding and even zip lining. Yes, I have my bad days especially when it rains . However, I have clarity of mind, my creativity and my independence which are priceless to me!!!!

Teach, Learn, Share

I am looking forward to learning more Italian and German. I am always amazed at how we can all see things from a completely different perspective. So, I learn from people everyday. It could be a lesson on forgiveness, compassion or something as mundane as, in Europe the beginning of the week is Monday, not Sunday like in the USA.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I live in South Jersey, I am about 40 minutes from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from New York. I love to go spend the day or weekend in New York.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belize, United States