Hi all! Friends would describe me as quirky, friendly, artsy, adventurous and goofy.

Professionally and for fun, I work as a user interface designer creating websites, apps, and products at Microsoft.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love the joy and spontaneity of meeting and making friends with people from all walks of life. I enjoy the Couchsurfing community for that very reason. Everyone here seems to be friendly, open-minded and wonderfully generous with their time and space. It takes a special kind of person to enjoy meeting and sharing their room with strangers. Couchsurfing epitomizes the true spirit of the sharing economy. It's less a business transaction and more of a relationship built on mutual trust and respect. I found my people. :)

Interests

I enjoy hiking, camping, and backpacking. I think it's a symptom of living and working in a concrete urban jungle. I find myself needing to immerse myself in nature every so often to preserve my sanity.

And this is where the Southern Californian in me kicks in: I'm a yoga fiend and amateur vegan chef. I'm not as strict with my diet anymore, because I enjoy trying foods from different cultures. But making raw food vegan cuisines is like alchemy to me. How is it that you can make a burger, pizza, cake, or taco using only vegetables, nuts, and seeds? Oh, and no using the stove or oven. It's hard to believe, but the end result is surprisingly tasty.

On the weekends, you'll usually find me gallery hopping in Chelsea, attending a design event, people watching in Central Park, or aimlessly exploring the myriad of interesting neighborhoods in NY.

I recently had the great fortune and privilege of meeting Bryan Stevenson, a human rights lawyer who dedicated his entire life to defending the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. His life and mission inspired me to offer my time, skills, and resources to serve my neighbors and help combat various issues of social injustice in the city. I'm especially blessed to serve as a volunteer leader at Young Life ministries in Harlem, mentoring teen moms and caring for their babies.

• design
• human rights
• dining
• cooking
• raw food
• vegan
• yoga
• dieting
• technology
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• business
• law
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Currently listening to on repeat: Esperanza Spalding
Currently reading: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson + Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
Last movie I enjoyed: The Revenant

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

At the start of my 3-month Euro trip one summer, I decided to abandon my suitcase at the side of a highway somewhere in Bologna, Italy. For the remainder of my trip, I traveled from country to country with just one backpack and absolutely relished the freedom and flexibility that afforded me. I was pretty much wearing the same thing everyday and washing my garments in the sink at hostels...but it was totally worth it.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm a visual designer in the tech sector with a background in branding , so I can help you with any design needs, including your website! I'm also a pretty good vegan cook (pat on back) so I'd be more than happy to whip up something healthy and yummy for you! I also live around the corner from the best bakery in New York, so whether you like it or not, I'm feeding you cake! It won't be vegan, but I'll explain that discrepancy when we meet. :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, South Korea, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States