Hello I am Marlen! I am from the rocky mountains in Utah. I grew up on a small farm growing alfalfa and riding horses. I love biology and I have a bachelor's in molecular biology. I graduated last May (2015) and I have been traveling across Europe, visiting friends all over the USA and most recently I have been exploring the maritime provinces in Canada.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I loved the physical beauty of Utah, but woah I want to see the world! I have done lots of WWOOFing, but couchsurfing is new to me, but if anyone wants help starting a garden I could give you a day or two! I'm more interested in getting a feel for the places I go. I want to hear the accents, see the countryside, learn how to make a local dish.

Interests

• horses
• poetry
• cooking
• gardening
• reading
• painting
• folk music
• hiking
• camping

Music, Movies, and Books

David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Peter Paul and Mary.

Books: a room of one's own (I love Virginia Woolf), Mary Oliver, Emerson, Thoreau. Guns germs and steel.

Movies: Rebecca (Hitchcock) , Maurice, the Fountain.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sequenced a genome of an ammonia-oxidizing bacteria! go nitrogen cycle!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach about biology, genetics, pruning fruit trees, gardening, how to make tapioca pudding and rhubarb crumble :)

I love discussions about philosophy, politics, science, literature. I'm a cool-headed person.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Cooking and playing/singing some folk music! I'm happy to help anyone start a garden:)

Countries I’ve Visited

Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Slovenia, South Korea, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Korea, United States