CURRENT MISSION

Wonderlosting while wanderlusting

ABOUT ME

Life's Motto: Live and let live.
I am quirky, tall, happy to be alive.

Perché sono iscritto su Couchsurfing

I've been a nomad for the past 5 years and have finally settled into a lovely house in DC.

Interessi

I enjoy learning about new cultures and people. I like to try new things and share the wonder with others. I spend most of my time working, but living abroad has its advantages in travel and adventure. I enjoy a good book and sharing a delicious meal with friends.

• books
• fashion
• dining
• traveling
• beaches
• mountains

Una cosa incredibile che ho fatto

My first time traveling alone out of the states I ended up in Egypt. One day I decided to visit Mount Sinai and sat in the back of a 9 passenger van, with at least 15 people in it. I had the back middle seat, but I was sitting on some blankets or newspapers, so I couldn't sit up straight and face forward. The seat leaned backwards and I rested my head on the back hatch. As I sat staring up to the stars in that perfect, virgin, moonless night sky and pondered the meaning of life while for the first time comprehending the name The Milky Way I thought, this is the moment I have lived for! Later that morning I sat at the top of mount Sinai and saw the sun pierce through the dark of night, reddish golden hues danced across the miles of hills and sandstone. Nothing could have prepared me for those experiences and I still think about the power that nature held over my mind and heart that night.

On the Greek Island of Milos I visited 22/72 beaches and was exhausted from the days' excursions- the only thing missing to make my day complete was a traditional meal. I could not have been more shocked at what I was served at a quaint seaside bar: Melt-in-your-Mouth Squid in a Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil and Pesto Sauce. It was absolutely completely magnificent. I was in heaven, and struggled to eat every bite, for the richness of flavors. I will never forget that meal, and hope to one day find a recipe that will do my memory justice.

I went from Beijing to Xi'an by train on a "standing-room only" ticket -Best Idea Ever- The last minute purchase during the summer break period left us with little other choice but to buy fold out chairs 10" in diameter and hope for enough space to set them up. There were at least 100 people packed into a train car the size of two school buses. As soon as we had settled in comfortably my Chinese colleague and friend noticed an elderly blind man who was squatting in tripod fashion with a long staff. She quickly decided to give her seat to him, and I reluctantly allowed her to, knowing we would then trade off misery and slightly less misery for the remaining time. What I witnessed that day was a testament to the true goodness of people for as soon as my friend had made her deed, the people sitting in comfortable seats that were purchased for triple the price we paid suddenly all decided it would be better to trade off sitting and standing throughout the remaining 15 hours of the ride. While the Terra Cotta Warriors were well worth the 36 hour round trip, I witnessed firsthand that generosity is contagious.

Cosa posso offrire ai padroni di casa

laughter, stories, good food

Paesi che ho visitato

Cambodia, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Malawi, Mali, Palestine, Sudan, Thailand, Zimbabwe

Paesi in cui ho vissuto

Italy, Jordan, Kenya, United States