CURRENT MISSION

I strongly believe that building relationships is one of the most important things in life and that's a big reason why I travel. I tend to travel without much planning because I like to come across things on my own. I like to create my own experiences.

ABOUT ME

I grew up in Ohio and after attending college in Chicago moved to India to study Hindi for a year. I am currently getting my Master's in International Security in Denver, CO (so you can often find me there too) but am currently living in Anchorage and working on Arctic policy and energy security. I have traveled a lot, seen a lot and done a lot and just finished a trip to SE Asia with my sister. Working on getting to Iceland next for the Arctic Energy Summit and some travel time and back to India some day of course.

PHILOSOPHY

If anything in life is important then human relationships should be.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Couchsurfing rocks. I've surfed and loved everyone I have met and think couchsurfing is a great compliment to my ideas surrounding community, relationships and participation.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've dabbled in couchsurfing wherever I go.

Interests

I love to go for long runs outside, snowboarding, salsa dancing and listening to live music. I rock climb and am always outdoors if I can help it. I'll listen to anything and I love watching independent films. I love eating all kinds of vegan food, and trying new things. My favorite trip so far was to Rwanda in 2008. I camped in the forests in Southern Rwanda near Burundi and the DRC, almost froze to death in a small tent with my friends and was attacked my monkeys outside our tent all night. The scenery was worth every mile traveled to get there though and I braved dysentery by drinking from a waterfall the freshest water I have ever tasted.

• dancing
• salsa dancing
• dining
• vegan
• running
• drinking
• movies
• traveling
• music
• live music
• outdoor activities
• snowboarding

Music, Movies, and Books

Stevie Nicks, Mumford and Sons, Trampled by Turtles, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Brandi Carlisle, Tori Amos (she's a god), Broken Bells, Social Distortion, The Smiths, Martha Wainwright, Swedish House Mafia, Florence and the Machine, The Weepies, Paramore, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

A Clockwork Orange, Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Don Quixote, most John Steinbeck, and all Rainer Rilke.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

On my 21st birthday I met a few Ugandan priests that took me to their village to meet their families. Upon arrival everyone crowded around to welcome us and we played music and danced for hours while the rain poured. I had to run into a hut to take a phone call from my mom wishing me a happy birthday. I had mud up to my knees and loved every bit of that day.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Laos, Morocco, Nepal, Rwanda, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, United States