CURRENT MISSION

To open myself up to new experiences that may be outside of my comfort zone. This currently includes exploring artistic practices, learning to play softball, and generally just trying to say yes to things that I am not 100% sure about.

ABOUT ME

I am a passionate teacher who loves literature and believes in fostering safe space and vulnerability and an openness to non-mastery in the classroom. I believe that one of the best ways to learn and grow is by being able to admit when you don't get something and to be excited to explore the myriad possibilities that life offers us. Sometimes that isn't always easy. In fact, it can often be the most difficult thing. But I have spent the last two years of my life trying to be open to not having all the answers -- something that is especially challenging within the world of academia.

I am in the 3rd year of the PhD program in English at the University of Toronto. My dissertation looks at representations of adolescent girls as "hideous" in 20th-century American literature and contemporary film and culture. As someone who is not always satisfied with the current state of feminism, I am super inspired by the work being done by adolescent girls right now (I am thinking specifically of Tavi Gevinson, creator of Rookie Magazine, which I HIGHLY recommend that you check out).

When I am not reading and/or talking about books, I enjoy binge watching the Gilmore Girls, doing yoga, biking around the city, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. I am a pretty positive person, more extroverted than introverted -- although some quiet time is always enjoyable. I really believe in the importance of home.

PHILOSOPHY

See above. Also really into a lot of self-exploration, non-violent communication, and it is incredibly important to me that I consider the ethical implications of the ways in which I choose to live my life, both in terms of my relationship to myself as well as others.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

When I first joined couchsurfing, I was been living in a wonderful community house in Toronto for three years and wanted to open that space up to travelers in need. When I moved into that house with my best friend, we set our intention to have a community space where people would not just come home and close their door and then be really awkward when they saw you in the hallway. Over the years we have had many wonderful people come and go and I have loved getting to know each one of them. Having couch surfers come and stay with us was another way to get to know new people and make our community even larger.

I have currently just moved in with my partner and our four (that's right, FOUR) cats. We are currently looking to get a pull out couch so that the possibility of hosting couchsurfers can become a reality. In the meantime, if you do not need a place to stay but would love to get a coffee or have someone show you some of the best kept secrets of the city, please let me know. If I am not available, I will definitely point you in the right direction!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have had 7 wonderful couch surfers come to stay at my house thus far and loved having them here. In December 2012, I had my first ever experience surfing on someone else's couch and it too was a wonderful experience. To be on the receiving end of this exchange really made me appreciate this community and its willingness to open its doors to others in need.

Interests

Dancing, cooking food with others, conversations with wine (or without), sharing stories, reading and talking about things that others/myself are reading, biking, literary studies, gender studies, ethics, cats.

• cats
• culture
• humanities
• writing
• books
• literature
• poetry
• dancing
• womens rights
• ethics
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• wine
• coffee
• yoga
• reading
• cycling
• camping
• surfing
• softball
• teaching
• gender studies

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Everything from the Bronte sisters to William Faulkner, to Kathy Acker. I am a huge philosophy and theory buff and love Lacan, Derrida, Levinas, Kristeva, Barthes, Baudrillard and many, many others.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

2 years ago I started an event within the University of Toronto's Graduate English Program called "Academics Read Things They Wrote as Kids" (modelled after Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids). This event is a fundraiser for a local non-profit called StoryPlanet, which offers free after school programs for children and youth in Toronto. These programs help kids with their homework, but they are also focused on helping kids become more effective communicators through creative writing. So I invite students and faculty to come and read everything from embarrassing adolescent poetry, to comic books, to letters they wrote to their sister from camp. What I love about this event is twofold: 1. We raise money for an amazing non-profit; and 2. We bring together members of the academic community, who are usually told to hide anything that makes them human or could embarrass them, and we all laugh together at our younger selves.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love to cook and have a nice rotation of Margeaux classics that I would love to introduce into your kitchens. I would be super pumped to talk about feminism, literature, how cool adolescent girls are, or any other topic that interests you. I am a quiet and respectful guest. I would love it if you were able to hang out a bit while I am staying with you, but totally respect if you don't have the time :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Germany, Israel, Poland, Ukraine

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada

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