Hi, I'm Megan!

I'm a reader, writer, traveller and learner. I've been on the road since 2014.

I grew up near Vancouver, Canada and moved to the city of Calgary after university to work as a geoscientist. After three years I left my settled existence, intending to backpack overland through Asia for a year by myself.

That year has come and gone and by fate and fortune I'm still on the road. Along the way I ditched the backpack for a bicycle, and later, found a partner whose dreams mirror my own. I have no plans to stop travelling, but I do have plans to slow down to engage with people and places in a different way.

I'm passionate about forming a life that is beneficial to both people and the planet. This considers aspects of the day to day - food, lifestyle, relationships, work, health, travel, family, money - but also those larger questions of life - purpose, privilege, accountability, contentedness, mindfulness...

But I'm certainly not there yet, which is why meeting and exchanging with diverse people through mediums like Couchsurfing is important to me!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on Couchsurfing because exchanging time and ideas with people from diverse places and backgrounds is awesome. I'm motivated to learn about you, and hopefully share a little about me and my life, too.

I've never hosted, yet - CS wasn't really on my radar until I was preparing to travel. My intention is to offer an enjoyable space for travellers to be hosted, when I'm in a position to do that.

I've surfed in Taiwan, Armenia and Turkey - all largely positive and engaging experiences. I also engage in the Warmshowers community, which is akin to CS but more geared at bicycle travellers (excuse the pun).

Interests

These days I spend time thinking about and pursuing meaningful relationships, reliable sources of data and information, compassionate and sustainable eating, minimalism, what it means to make a difference, the perfect wild campsite and a healthy attitude towards the Internet.

I spend a large amount of time packing, unpacking and riding a bicycle but I wouldn't consider myself a 'cyclist' and I know only the bare bones of bicycle maintenance!

• writing
• chinese new year
• dining
• cooking
• boating
• traveling
• minimalism
• fishing
• backpacking
• hitchhiking

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Moments of ignorance and impulsivity have led me to travel experiences that I might have passed on, had I understood what they would actually involve. I'm grateful for my lack of foresight.

These include riding a bicycle along the Afghanistan border, purchasing a donkey to walk through Kyrgyzstan, hitchhiking with a commercial truck in Kazakhstan, train travel in China during the Chinese New Year, and inviting a casual romantic interest to commandeer a fishing boat in the Philippines.

Most amazing is the amount of money I've spent on cappucinos in many places one would not expect to find such a beverage. This has been a source of great enjoyment and sizeable self-criticism.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you are curious about what it is like to travel by bicycle, I'd be delighted to share what I know and do what I can to introduce you to it.

I'm hesitant to say that I'm a good cook, but I love food and enjoy cooking for myself and other people. I'm interested to learn what you eat and to show you what I eat!

What I Can Share with Hosts

If you decide you're interested in hosting me, I'm looking forward to cooking with you, as well as sharing stories from the road!

I'm respectful of personal space and work schedules, and have pretty minimal needs in terms of living space. During much of the year I'm happiest sleeping in my tent and doing laundry in the bathroom sink.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada