I am a nurse at a large hospital in the Midwestern United States. I have decided to quit my current nursing job after 2 years in order to travel/ backpack the world with my boyfriend of 6 years, Jim (also a nurse).
Ever since spending a year living in Bolivia as a high school exchange student I have developed an addiction to travel and adventure. I especially love nature and the outdoors; including, but not limited to: mountain trekking, biking, swimming in the ocean/ lakes/ rivers, scuba diving, beaches in general, and camping. I am always open to new experiences as well.
When I am in cities I enjoy tasting all the local foods, drinking LOTS of coffee, wandering and walking around the streets, looking at architecture and learning about the history, going to any (free) concerts or events, and meeting local people who can show me around and take me to their favorite places. I like meeting new people and sharing world-views. Oh, and any time I am able to meet animals/ hang out with people's pets I am very happy :) Another thing I'm passionate about is music -I play the violin and a little piano. Music just makes everything better.
The only language I speak besides English is Spanish. I love to practice my Spanish any time that I can. I am also super interested in learning different languages whenever I have an opportunity.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I Couchsurfed a few years back with a friend from France while we were on a road trip together and loved the experience. I felt that I was able to experience each place we went on a much deeper level because our hosts were able to tell us about their favorite places and things to do nearby- things we would not easily be able to find in a guidebook or even on the internet. They taught us about the history and background of where they lived which helped me understand each place a little better. These are the types of experiences I look for when I travel to new places. I also hope to be able to share with others a little bit about myself and where I come from. This kind of intercultural interaction is what will make the world a better place.

Interests

• animals
• cats
• coffee
• traveling
• piano
• violin
• hiking
• camping
• scuba diving
• cultural studies
• history
• languages
• philosophy
• vegetarian cooking

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy most genres of music except for country and heavy metal. I'm always finding new bands and songs I like, from alternative/rock to folk-indie, to rap and classical. I listen to music whenever I get the chance!
Books- anything by Tom Robbins and Kurt Vonnegut. Some other favorites are A Fine Balance, Shantaram, Into the Woods, Mountains Beyond Mountains, Into the Wild, and The Poisonwood Bible. I also love David Sedaris (great comedian).
Movies- Rain Man, The Shawshank Redemption, E.T., and Y Tu Mama Tambien.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbed an active volcano in Guatemala at night with glowing red rocks flying towards me!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach Spanish or English to anyone wanting to learn or just have conversations for practice. I would like to learn some basic language skills in each country I travel to if anyone is willing to help me :)
I love to play the violin (but I won't have mine with me while traveling).
I'm always willing to share my favorite music with anyone who is interested.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I know how to cook a few good vegetarian meals which I'd be happy to do.
I basically just like to share stories, conversations, and music over some good food and drinks.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Bolivia, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bolivia, India, United States