CURRENT MISSION

travel more, learn more, be more

ABOUT ME

I just graduated from Purdue University in Industrial Engineering, which is all about making processes more efficient. I'm pretty open-minded and love to experience new things! I tend not to generalize, but rather evaluate my feelings towards things on a case-by-case basis, which means I have very eclectic tastes. In general, I'm a very kind person who is pretty flexible. I can be happy with both quiet, relaxing days and jam-packed adventurous ones. I take pleasure in the little things and unique experiences. I am constantly amazed and excited by all of the new things I discover when traveling.

PHILOSOPHY

To each their own - everyone is entitled to their own opinions/beliefs and should not be forced into or judged by the opinions/beliefs of others :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've surfed a lot and hosted a little (but am happy to host more once I get back to the US) and met up with other CSers to practice languages and learn about other cultures.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I was introduced to CouchSurfing by a friend when we decided to go to Toronto, ON, Canada together last minute for a holiday weekend. I was initially skeptical, but I took a leap of faith. I ended up meeting some truly amazing people that made the trip incredible - much better than it ever could have been staying in a hotel.

Since then, I've been hooked and taken every opportunity to CouchSurf. I've met a bunch of interesting and amazing people and their pets - ranging from cuddly kittens to creepy tarantulas! I always end up with great stories and unforgettable memories :)

Interests

people, puzzles, books, art, languages, food, good beer/wine/bourbon, fall/autumn, learning, teaching, Disney, travel, adventures!

• pets
• arts
• books
• dancing
• salsa dancing
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• traveling
• puzzles
• engineering
• languages
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I tend to not have favorites because it mostly depends on my mood and because I like such vastly different things. Generally, I love it when movies/music/books really make you think/challenge preconceived notions or generate strong emotions. I also enjoy less serious things as well. Above all, I'm willing to give anything a shot and love to discover new things!

I'm currently reading Atonement by Ian McEwan, which is one of my favorite movies. My iPod is full of many different genres and languages as well - too many to pick a favorite! I've done a lot of volunteering for Autism Speaks and coincidentally I loved reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon. Here's a great quote from the book:

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One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have eaten cake on the grounds of Versailles where Marie Antoinette once stood, climbed to the top of Sacre Coeur for a panoramic view of Paris, and seen the graves of French legends at Pere Lachaise.

In a 24-hour period, I kayaked through the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo, Puerto Rico with the water glowing below me and the stars shining above me, hiked through the Rio Camuy caves, swam in the Atlantic Ocean, and went salsa dancing on a beach. Needless to say it was an incredible day.

Best Australian experience thus far was spending a few days on a sheep farm, surprisingly enough.

Teach, Learn, Share

I minored in Spanish, but the class I just took was the first I had taken in about 2 years. It's true what they say about languages - use them or lose them. I can read, write, and usually listen/understand fairly well, but I've gotten much worse at speaking it. So I have some to teach, but a lot to learn :)

In general, I love learning new languages or even new slang/strains of my current one! Australia has proved to be absolutely fascinating in that it is English, but there are so many nuances and colloquial differences that I feel like I'm learning a new language (a new vocabulary at least!).

When it comes to food, I don't know how to cook much and would love to learn more. I love experiencing new food or just generally great food when I travel (or even when I don't!). I'm somewhat of a beer snob in that I like good beers, although I'm still pretty uneducated about types, breweries, etc. and am open to suggestions. I know a decent amount about bourbon and have done most of the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. I took a wine appreciation class at Purdue, which taught me a lot and also whetted my appetite for more knowledge on the subject. It seems you could study wine forever and still not know every vineyard or unique blend, which I suppose is what is so intriguing about it.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States