CURRENT MISSION

To learn other perspectives, other cultures, other lives while photographing life around me to hopefully awaken others to what I have learned and seen.

ABOUT ME

I am usually quiet because I prefer to listen and learn. Yet if I am asked anything I am honest and love to share my experiences. I have lived in many places and worked in many different types of jobs from travel agent in Dallas, Texas to a television camera operator at a horse race track in Hot Springs, Arkansas to clearing trails and fighting forest fires in Oregon for the US Forest Service. I love new experiences.

PHILOSOPHY

'Travel is fatal to prejudice' Mark Twain

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I just joined so I am new to all of this. However, I have enjoyed homestays with families in Peru, Brazil and the Dominican Republic for a total of seven months. I always love getting to know the people and making new friends in other countries. Most Americans are too isolated. I want to know the world around me. Since joining CS I have had nothing but wonderful experiences with the new friends I have met. From Finland to Poland and everywhere in between couchsurfers have opened their homes to me and made me feel welcome. I only wish I had known about this great new way of getting to know people sooner.

Interests

Travel, art, roller coasters, rafting, camping, hiking, biking, history, architecture, concerts & PHOTOGRAPHY

• arts
• architecture
• photography
• concerts
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• horse racing
• track and field
• teaching
• history
• nursing

Music, Movies, and Books

MOVIES: Stay, Momento, Elizabethtown, Butterfly Effect, Forrest Gump, Airplane, Arthur, City of Angels, Monty Python's Holy Grail, Autumn in New York, Kingdom of Heaven, Legends of the Fall, Dead Poet's Society, What Dreams May Come (I was camera assistant/clapper/ loader on the movie "Shelter" which starred Kurtwood Smith of "That 70s Show" "Dead Poet´s Society" and Charles Durning of "The Sting" "Dog Day Afternoon")

MUSIC: 3 Doors Down, Five For Fighting, Evanescence, Nickelback, Vertical Horizon, Switchfoot, Jackson Browne, Collective Soul, Peter Gabriel, The Fray, Tom Petty, rock, country, jazz, blues, classical, bluegrass (NO rap or opera)

BOOKS: Walden, Tom Sawyer, Walk Across America. I don't read much because I prefer to write my own story. I've had articles and photos published in newspapers, books, calendars, post cards, and magazines.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

DEEP QUESTION! I am not sure if I have ever done anything amazing. I have climbed Kilimanajro and I was amazed (but others may not be by my feat). I was amazed when I swam with nurse sharks in Belize but others have done the same. I have been amazed by many things but I certainly have not changed the world.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am a photographer and teacher. Once upon a time I taught American History to high school students in Rifle, Colorado (for one school year) and have tutored many in English as I wandered the globe. I love art, history and learning new things.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, China, Egypt, Guatemala, Tanzania, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, Dominican Republic, Peru, United States

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