CURRENT MISSION

learn new cultures, explore new adventures, provide positive experience

ABOUT ME

In taking six months off from work in 2006 to travel solo to Belize, Guatemala, & the Eastern U.S. I was well taken care of by the locals & this feels like an opportunity to give back. I have a home that is much too big for me & I hate wasting the space. Rather than renting out part of the home, it seems much more engaging to "host". I am not a native of Salt Lake City, Utah. Nor am I a "Mormon" or part of the LDS religion. Raised Catholic, more comfortable with Buddhist philosophy. However, I have lived here for 14 years & feel comfortable explaining local culture, great recreational opportunities, & good local places to eat, drink, & have fun. Specifically experienced with good hiking & camping sites.

PHILOSOPHY

I consider myself a spiritual, but grounded person. I like to play & enjoy life, yet also feel inclined to do my part to help others along the way. I work as a psychotherapist at a non-profit community mental health agency in the field of addiction. I love my work & enjoy giving of myself as a way to help others see the possibilities rather than the obstacles in life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am new to this project. Currently interested in host experiences...but plan to travel overseas to Thailand, India & such within the next five years.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

These are not "official" couch surfing experiences, but I took time off work in 2006, drove to the New England States with my 2 dogs & ended up on a horse rescue ranch in Maine. I stayed in a small cabin & worked on the ranch for a couple of weeks. It was amazing! Nightly, she let the 40 rescue horses out to run from the lower pasture to the upper pasture...the power of the hoof beat on the ground still resonates within me. The dogs especially liked hanging out with the donkey & three crazy sheep.
I also traveled to Belize & Guatemala for a month in November 2006 & was taken under the wing of various folks. One of which was a guide (David's Adventure Tours) who took me canoeing through the Mayan burial caves. Then, ended up staying on his family's land in San Ignacio. We hiked his land in the morning, enjoyed the raw Mayan ruins, the colorful iguanas & the wild parrots flying. I tend to like adventure!

Interests

I have three dogs & a cat. I enjoy camping & get a lot of spiritual connection from the beauty of nature...which Utah has so much of & with such diversity (mountains, desert, lakes, red rock canyons). I have a scooter which I LOVE to drive & take on my adventures to lakes, canyons, & local events. Recently, I have been taking African Drumming classes, attending "Boxing is for Girls", & renewing my passion for road cycling. Mostly, I just enjoy being playful & having fun while hoping to make a positive impact on the world along the way.

• cats
• dogs
• wildlife
• horses
• culture
• beauty
• dining
• recipes
• delicatessens
• running
• drinking
• flying
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• canoeing
• camping
• surfing
• boxing
• religion
• tourism
• tours
• lakes
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

It is hard for me to read fiction, as there is so much to learn in my field in the way of non-fiction work. No Time To Lose, by Pema Chodron is my current read. Kite Runner was my last fiction read, although I think that was a real story. The biography of Alice Walker was amazing. I love movies that leave me inspired...favorite movie was Whale Rider. I am a gal from a small town in Missouri, so am a country music gal at heart. Attended Colbie Calliat concert recently & am planning to attend the Women's Music Festival in Torrey, UT this summer. I am a "American Idol" fan.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

For some reason, seeing two parrots flying in the wild while I was in Belize strikes me as amazing. They are such colorful, unbelievable characters. Other "run-ins" with wildlife also strike me deeply...coyotes, moose, iguanas. Actually, going to Belize/Guatemala solo was the most unlikely thing I could have imagined when growing up in a small town in Missouri. I was giggling & swinging my feet on the bus ride through the jungles of Belize as the only white tourist in the area. (I strayed from the usual tourist scene).

Teach, Learn, Share

I am currently deeply interested in "mindfulness practice". I teach classes on Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention for those addicted to substances or struggling with mood states. I love learning about cuisine from other cultures & would love to learn new authentic recipes from my "surfers"...bring a recipe, I'll buy the food. I live in the most diverse area of Salt Lake City...we have the most Chilean Delis, Peruvian, Tongan, Oaxacan, Mexican, & Asian restaurants closer than anywhere in the valley.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Guatemala, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States