High School: Graduated from Cumberland Valley High School in 1995

College: Graduated from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1999 with a major in International relations (focus on Latin America)

Where I live: Mechanicsburg

Pets: A 1-year-old, three-footed kitty named Kharma

Favorite music: Latin music — or anything else with a rhythm so contagious I can't sit still

Favorite movies: "Little Miss Sunshine," plus others I can't think of now.

Favorite TV shows: Um, well, I rarely turn mine on, so I couldn't tell you!

Favorite book: Too many to choose just one. I started a book club with friends a year and a half ago and this month we're reading "The Kite Runner." Next month, we'll read "Nickel and Dimed."

Guilty pleasures: Mint chocolate chip ice cream (or any ice cream for that matter). Sour Patch Kids. Talking to my cat.

Likes: Reading, photography, camping, kayaking, bicycling, camping, dancing, and traveling as much as possible.

Dislikes: Commuting, talking on the phone. Inconsiderate people.

Goals & aspirations: I would love to be able to make a living as a full-time travel writer and photographer because I am fascinated by other cultures (probably should have been an anthropology major) and want to experience and document the way people live in other parts of the planet. So many places to go, so little time!

Countries I have visited so far: Mexico (fourth trip coming in April), Ecuador (twice), Spain, Venezuela. And Puerto Rico and Alaska, which are technically U.S. but SOOO different than the mainland.

Can't live without: My cat. My friends. Books. My calendar/planner. Something to write with.

Little-known facts:

I am terrified of worms. It's silly, I know. I've tried many times to get past this, but can't.

I am bilingual in Spanish and frequently work as an interpreter (spoken) and translater (written).

I was born with a cleft palate, which means the roof of my mouth didn't exist. When they fed me milk, it came out my nose! (gross, i know)