CURRENT MISSION

It's not the destination that matters. I'm a cook with an English major, aiming to own my own restaurant or cafe some day. I love cooking with criteria and challenges! Also vegetables. You might say vegetables are my mission.

ABOUT ME

I like lots of things but try not to let them define me. I can be shy but am generally charming (so sayeth my mother) and get along with a lot of different kinds of people. I love learning about different cultures and have particular connections to German and Japanese cultures. However, in the past couple of years, I've also developed interest in Mexico, Turkey, and Brazil. Beautiful people, beautiful cultures, beautiful food. Food is so important in connecting people, and you hardly need language (which is still fun!).

PHILOSOPHY

I believe it's not the destination that matters. I believe that everyone has something interesting to say, or do, or share. Every culture has culinary delights. Vegetables are probably tastier than you think they are (this is to those Americans who "don't like vegetables.") Cat gravity is real: if you are sitting on a chair, and a cat jumps onto your lap and settles down, the gravity it has been collecting all day will slowly sink down into your legs, making it progressively harder and harder to get up until it is completely impossible for you to move until the cat decides to do so first. I believe that asking questions and being genuinely interested is the best way to have a good conversation with someone.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I signed up on CS many years ago, but didn't do much because I was travelling, forgot about it, got distracted, and various other excuses. Then my then-fiance, now-husband and I started hosting for a while and met some great people, until we moved, had a kid, and other things that meant we took a break from hosting couchsurfers. We enjoy meeting new people from all different cultures, though, so we'd love to meet up for coffee/beverages and show you around.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My husband and I started hosting in November 2011 and loved it when we were active. We like to put a bit more effort into hosting than just making a bed. I've done a fair bit of travelling where I didn't stay in hotels or motels or hostels, so I enjoyed being able to turn that around and offer space to other travellers.

Interests

Ice cream, cats, dogs, chocolate, vegetables, vegetarian food, spices, hiking, knitting, making jewelry, reading, sci-fi, fantasy, RP tabletop gaming, other gaming, GLBT issues, renaissance faires, comics, anime, manga, frogs, toads, tattoos, opera, rock'n'roll, pop, j-pop, folk, swing, dancing, languages, and a few other things.

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• culture
• tattoos
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• chocolate
• vegetarian
• crafts
• comics
• anime
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• knitting
• music
• opera
• hiking
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Ohjeez. You want me to list books that I'm interested in? Ok, here goes. These are just the first ones that come to mind, which means I've been thinking about them recently for some reason, or they're just that good.
One Sunny Day, by Hideko Tamura Snyder
the "Otherland" series by Tad Williams
The Ordinary Princess, by M. M. Kaye
the "Sandman" graphic novel series by Neil Gaiman
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Someplace to be Flying by Charles de Lint
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Murphy's Boy by Torey Hayden
Somebody Else's Kids by Torey Hayden
Paradise Kiss manga series by Ai Yazawa
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy Tales
Any folk tales that anyone tells you.
Arabian Nights
Elijah's Violin & other Jewish Folk Tales
... and lots more.

Music: I like most of it, except for most rap, a lot of country (especially the overly twangy emo kind) though I do like some old-school country like Johnny Cash, and some hip hop. I am also not a big fan of classical music from the era of Bartok, Debussy, Schoenberg, etc. I like hard rock, oldies, some metal, celtic music, some new age music, folk music (american and from around the world) musicals, classical (except above listed), 80s pop, and some 90s and 00s pop.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I saw the rainforests of Costa Rica, touched trees wider in diameter than my outstretched arms, and stood under plants with leaves standing taller than me. (I am 5'8"/171cm.) I touched spider webs considered the strongest natural substance in the world, being used at many hospitals in surgeries. I swam in a waterfall. The whole experience was incredible.

Teach, Learn, Share

Both my husband and I grew up in Chicago so collectively we know a fair bit about the city. We both love to cook and share our food with others. If you stay with us we'll most likely invite you to share at least one meal with us (depending on schedules, of course). Everyone has something unique to share so I couldn't really say what I want to learn, since I don't know yet what you have to share! Some of my specific interests include: creative things like crafts and hand-made items, animals, and music.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Japan, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States