CURRENT MISSION

To explore myself and the world.

ABOUT ME

I'm a very easy-going type of person, friendly, non-judgmental,and fairly talkative :) I've caught the travel bug and am spending my summer vacation between university semesters traveling around Europe by myself! I'm the type of person who enjoys both quiet evenings and nights out (though the latter is new for me) and I really like spending time socializing with people from different cultures and lifestyles. When traveling, I prefer to be independent, but in some of the places I hope to stay in for more than a week I'd really like to meet locals who can show me around a bit, which is why I'd like to try couchsurfing instead of hostels!

PHILOSOPHY

There are a few things that I've come to very strongly believe:
1) People need other people. Companionship is just a part of being human, and we certainly haven't spent the last million and a half years alone. Friends help us in our quests for self-exploration and open our minds to new perspectives.
2) Happiness is different for everyone and "success" doesn't necessarily equal it. Also, what makes us happy as individuals often changes throughout life, and accepting this is important!
3) Things always work out in the end-- sometimes they just cost a little extra money or time. :P

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have couchsurfed twice before with a friend in the US but didn't have a profile of my own then, and I'm just starting to gain momentum as a surfer in Europe this summer. :) After I return home, I would be happy to return the hospitality and host others!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far, my couchsurfing experience outside of the US has been better than I could have imagined. Hurray for awesome people!

Interests

I'm studying ecology and anthropology at my university in California, so those topics and things related to the natural world and culture (which is like, everything) interest me academically. I'm really curious about how the planet works and the relationships people have with the places they live. This definitely includes the concept of sustainable living, including organic agriculture, traditional/natural building, appropriate technology, and resource conservation... Which I try to not only think about in a theoretical sense but practice as a lifestyle choice as well.

Otherwise, I really like to do outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking, as well as riding horses, playing board games, trying new foods and drinks, and wandering new places. I love staying up late at night talking with new found friends (preferably around a campfire!) and rising early to experience the dawn. (By the same token, I also really like afternoon naps, haha)

• animals
• horses
• chickens
• culture
• working out
• drinking
• gardening
• clothing
• politics
• technology
• board games
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• woodworking
• music
• outdoor activities
• equestrian
• fishing
• hiking
• kayaking
• sailing
• agriculture
• anthropology
• biology
• ecology
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm really not up to date with pop culture and media. My bad. I enjoy almost everything though, but not US country music, most rap, or screamo metal. I'm also not a fan of horror movies. Give me something happy and upbeat, thought-provoking, or peculiar, and I'll be down!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Visiting Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy was INCREDIBLE. Almost awe-struck enough to convert... but not quite, haha.

Sleeping outside in the Norwegian mountains with only a blankie and some layers of clothes. Brr! It was very serene, all by myself and with an INCREDIBLE view of the ocean, a small fishing village, a lake, and the hillsides under the midnight sun.

Teach, Learn, Share

Pick my brain about:

English, a tiny bit of Spanish
Flute playing, reading music
Ecology, general biology, anthropology, Madagascar biodiversity and politics, the US (from a very liberal point of view),
The downs of long-term relationships, the benefits of long-term friendships
Animal husbandry (sheep, horses, chickens, turkeys), horseback riding, small-scale farming, some organic gardening... and more! :P

And I'd like to learn more about... well... anything and everything! Especially sailing, woodworking, and appropriate technology! Got any of those?

Countries I’ve Visited

United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States