Hello there! My name is Rowan and I am solo backpacking for 8 months (between finishing my Neurobiology degree and starting a position as an HIV outreach specialist in Lesotho, Africa). I've previously lived in the US (Colorado, New York) and France (Paris).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm looking to travel through the eyes, taste buds, and quirky-loves of local people. I'm interested in culture, language, and skill set exchange.

Interests

• animals
• red wine
• yoga
• reading
• hiking
• camping
• rock climbing
• tea
• learning languages
• learning new things
• whiskey
• foodie
• city life
• vegan food
• local history
• local culture
• coffee shops
• local cuisine
• intellectual conversations
• writing poetry

Music, Movies, and Books

BOOKS: Patrick Suskind's Le Parfum: Histoire d'un meurtrier (Perfume: Story of a Murderer). Special appreciation for Simone de Beauvoir and Judith Jarvis Thompson. Learning Russian to read Dostoevsky in the original language.

Like any good millennial I grew up on, and adore, Harry Potter. I'm usually sorted into Ravenclaw, with a few Slytherin mishaps.

MUSIC: I like to focus to Vivaldi, relax to Jazz, get emotional over Ed Sheeran, and party hard to whatever is hitting the top of the charts.

MOVIES: Typically ambivalent, but I do appreciate an artfully done film. I love the American indie film "Captain Fantastic" for it's honest representation of American education and capitalism; "Mon Garçon" is my favourite french film, hands down.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hitchhiked northern Africa and stayed in Desert Berber and Mountain Berber homes (where little, if any common language existed between us)

Teach, Learn, Share

TEACH: English, basic ASL, French, yoga

LEARN: Language, piano, cooking

SHARE: Personal truths; Stories; Travel Experiences; Culture; Food; Wine; Laughs

What I Can Share with Hosts

I find that this part is specific to the individual host/surfer. But I'm dedicated to making the arrangement an even exchange and personally value information exchange :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States