CURRENT MISSION

Traveling to Australia, India and Israel, and hope to visit as many countries as possible en route!

ABOUT ME

I'm a 23-year-old American backpacker, taking a year off to explore the world. I grew up on the outskirts of the San Francisco Bay Area and studied English and theater at the University of Chicago. In 2006, I left America for the first time to study abroad in Paris and backpack through Europe. Ever since then, I've been itching to travel again--and, after a year of working in arts administration, I'm finally living the dream! Right now, I'm in Australia on a Work and Holiday visa, and in June I'll fly to India for a few months, then to Israel with a few stopovers in Asia.

I heard about couchsurfing from some friends in Melbourne and am eager to try it. I was lucky enough to couch surf with family friends when I backpacked through Europe, and cherished the opportunity to meet people, build relationships, share experiences, make friends, and see a city and country through the eyes of a local. It's impossible to know a place without knowing the people who live there.

I'm neat, clean, respectful, and a non-smoker. Although, I'm not the greatest cook (I can try, though!), I love to eat anything and everything!

PHILOSOPHY

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

While I travel, I'd love to surf. When I return to the USA, I'd love host!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

This is my first experience couchsurfing.com, but not my first experience couchsurfing. When I traveled through Europe, I surfed with a combination of old friends and family contacts who I met for the first time. All my experiences were positive and I'm eager to add to them!

Interests

Writing, reading, live theater, music, film, new foods, hiking, backpacking, exploring

• arts
• culture
• writing
• theater
• festivals
• cooking
• flying
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• hiking
• backpacking
• study abroad

Music, Movies, and Books

Last movie watched (and enjoyed!): 500 Days of Summer
Last book devoured: Mrs. Dalloway
Last song on iPod: Stevie Wonder's Blue Moon

I like silver screen and independent movies--character driven rather than action packed.

I read fiction, creative non-fiction, biography, philosophy. In Australia, I've enjoyed Roald Dahl, Elizabeth Gilbert, Junot Diaz, Bill Bryson, Margaret Mitchell, and Virginia Woolf...a pretty good sample of my literary palate.

Music has always been a passion. I play piano and trumpet and am trying to learn guitar. I love jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock n roll, alternative, country, classical, funk, and some R&B.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

USA: Spent three summers stage managing a Shakespeare festival in the vineyards that surround my home in California. Loved watching live theater touch, transform, and enrich my childhood community.
Australia: went to Summer ConFest in NSW!

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn about as many cultures and lifestyles as possible while I travel. Of course, I'd love to share my own culture and passions.

Countries I’ve Visited

Germany, India, Israel, Italy, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, France, United States

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