I’m a veteran, artist, and documentary founder working to build emotional infrastructure through presence. I’m traveling slow, listening deep, and giving back one story at a time.

Fluent in English.
Learning Croatian + Spanish.
Former founder of a food company, now building a healing café in Croatia.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I’m a U.S. Army veteran, trauma-informed storyteller, and founder of Barrio Prints — a quiet healing archive built through art, portraits, and presence.
I’m traveling through Europe to document stories of grief, resilience, and emotional survival for a documentary called The Road to Reclamation.

I don’t stay in hotels or hostels — I stay where people live and carry real stories. Couchsurfing is how I stay connected, soft, and grounded in this work.

In return, I offer free portraits, respectful presence, and honest connection. You’re not just giving me a couch — you’re giving a story a place to rest.

Interests

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hitchhiking and frugal travel first and foremost, since it's my preferred way of getting around.

Animals and nature, I have a hodge podge of random facts I've learned from watching way to many nature shows! (Probably not enough)

Hiking and anything outdoors.

Dancing, I took an ecstatic dance class in Albuquerque learned that I got some good moves so why not flaunt them ;)

Movies and TV shows are my other hobby, I'm a free spirit with couch potato mixed in. Let's just say I know how to chill as well as go off on random adventures into the wilderness.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• cats
• arts
• writing
• photography
• human rights
• volunteering
• spirituality
• storytelling
• documentary
• healing
• mental health
• social impact
• neurodiversity
• cultural
• grief support

Music, Movies, and Books

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music:
Anything that hits the soul — The Killers, Chappell Roan, Florence + the Machine, Interpol, Bon Iver. I like soundtracks that feel like memory.

Movies:
I like layered stuff. Horror with depth, comedies that say something, and documentaries that actually let people breathe. I watch films for mood and meaning, not just plot.

Books:
I don’t finish many books these days — my mind moves fast and my memory is scattered since the military. But I love poetry, sci-fi, and true crime. If it’s honest and doesn’t talk down to the reader, I’m in.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Helped thousands of people during the Haiti earthquake mission while in the Army.
Walked through Europe post-trauma and came back with a camera to listen instead of fight.
Hitchhiked from Bosnia to Finland with nothing but a backpack and a purpose.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Teach, Learn, Share

How to cook a no-bullshit meal with whatever’s in your fridge. How to tell your story without shame. How to ground yourself during emotional overload. Also — how to make a good cup of coffee.

Learn:
Your rituals. Your family’s way of grieving. What helped you survive. I want to understand how people from all cultures build safety and meaning, even when the world is chaotic.

Share:
I share my lens — literally and emotionally. If we meet, I’ll offer you a portrait. Not just a photo, but a moment where you feel reflected. That’s what I carry across borders.

What I Can Share with Hosts

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• A portrait session (digital + mailed print) as a thank-you
• Gentle conversation about healing, life, creativity, or silence
• Home-cooked meals (I ran a recipe blog + cooked for a delivery company)
• Clean-up, setup, and quiet presence — I’m a respectful guest and former military, so I leave spaces better than I found them
• A real moment — the kind people remember after the noise fades

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Haiti, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, United States, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Haiti, Mexico, Sweden, United States