Hello future hosts and friends! My name is Mercedes and I am traveling across the country with my sweetheart Derek. Our current path of travel will start in Portland Oregon, move South through California, then East through Arizona before heading up into Colorado for Christmas. I know, it's winding and confusing, but it's going to be one hell of a trip! I am a kind, mature, hardworking, fun-loving, responsible, clean 22 year young human who adores both nature and people – especially learning from and working with those who are passionate about what they do! I have a deep desire to live gently with the earth and to experience life harmonious with nature. I want to open myself up to it, connect with it, and pour myself into all the things I understand and don’t. I’m an Oregonian, born and raised, and looking to expand that description. I’ve left my home state looking for adventure and stories, and I don’t plan on settling until I’ve grown exhausted (if ever)! I moved out to Peterborough, New Hampshire from Ashland, Oregon in 2014, and have fallen in love! With the area, with the people, and with Derek, my someone special. Beauty exists, he said. Let’s go find it, I agreed. We signed up for the wwoofing program and plan to travel the country from farm to farm, ride shares and possible hitching have been considered for transportation, but I knew right away I wanted to use couch surfing to multiply our places to stay and people to meet. I strongly believe these two communities will compliment each other well enough to enable our travel across the country - and soon, the world!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Strangers have become my favorite people in my time traveling! If greeted with a warm smile and genuine kindness, many are simply compelled to respond with the same, and I want the chance to perhaps do more than just *meet* these people.

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I haven't yet had the opportunity to stay with another member of CS, but I friends (new and old) have helped me along the way in my travels. Ever since I found out about it, I have passed on the word of CS as much as possible.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
Newbie! (Help me level up???)

Interests

I am a lover of travel, telling stories, writing, reading, hiking, video games, singing, and learning of many sorts. I have five sisters and they are the truest family I recognize, I love them more than anything. I’m a dork. I’m a geek. I’m a nerd. And I’m not ashamed or embarrassed by that! My goal is to one day become completely self-sustainable, perhaps with a farm of my own, and to be in a position to teach others the knowledge I gain in my travels. I enjoy critical thinking and conversing with people able to think abstract and outside the box, and love hearing opinions different from mine.

• writing
• singing
• beauty
• video games
• reading
• traveling
• hiking
• surfing
• boxing
• carpooling

Music, Movies, and Books

It's hard, if not impossible for me to choose favorite anythings... the only time I ever even attempt to narrow down the extensive lists of things I love is when websites like this tell me to! So I'm going to rebel instead, and give you some of my favorite quotes - ENJOY! ~ Robert F. Kennedy

“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.” ~ Lemony Snicket

“When she transformed into a butterfly, the caterpillars spoke not of her beauty, but of her weirdness. They wanted her to change back into what she had always been. But she had wings.” ~ Dean Jackson

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~ Marianne Williamson

What I Can Share with Hosts

Respect of space and an open mind. A tarot reading. Fresh cookies!

Countries I’ve Visited

United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States