Hello! My name is Aiyana Emigh and I studied Microbiology and Mathematics at California State University Long Beach. After getting my teaching credentials, I joined the United States Peace Corps to fulfill a lifelong dream of living and working abroad. I have been living as a Peace Corps volunteer in Njaba Kunda, The Gambia for the last two years as a Math and Science Teacher Trainer. In the fall, I will be returning to the United States to earn my PhD in Biophysics at University California Davis.

I enjoy any adventure whether it is wandering unknown streets, exploring new environments, or getting to know strangers and making friends. I love to dance, watch movies, eat good food, read books, and have great conversations.

As a host or guest, I ensure you that I will be respectful and open-minded. I hope that you will be too!

I can't wait to meet you!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am here to travel, explore, make new friends, and help others do the same.

Interests

Dance (Blues, Bachata, Salsa, Kizomba, Swing), Cooking, Eating (Sushi, Korean, Thai, BBQ), Movies (Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Indie, Comedic Dramas, Animated, Musicals), Reading (Science, Science Fiction, Dystopian and Absurdist Novels, some Young Adult), Science, Computers, Teaching, International Development

• books
• dancing
• bachata
• dining
• cooking
• bbq
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• blues
• skiing
• teaching
• mathematics
• science
• volunteering
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC

Alt-J, Sean Hayes, Amos Lee, Obadiah Parker, Regina Spektor, Fleetwood Mac, Cat Stevens, The Beatles, Blind Melon, Gnarls Barkley, The Lumineers, OneRepublic, Carole King, Imagine Dragons, Vampire Weekend, The Shins, and so much more...

MOVIES and TV

Harold and Maude, Singing in the Rain, Phoebe in Wonderland, Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pitch Perfect, Rent, Sweeney Todd, Tangled, Up, Toy Story, The Incredibles, How to Train Your Dragon, Finding Nemo, really bad movies, Star Wars, Back to the Future, The Princess Bride, Footloose, Wes Anderson and Coen Brothers films, anything Joss Whedon, Doctor Who, Sherlock, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, Parks and Recreation, The Big Bang Theory, Scrubs, and on and on and on...

BOOKS and AUTHORS

Kurt Vonnegut, The Innovators by Walter Isaacson, Enders Game Series by Orson Scott Card, The Invention of Air and How We Got To Now by Steven Johnson, Genome by Matt Ridley, The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins, Lord of the Ring Series by JRR Tolkein, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol, John Green, Mary Roach, Game of Thrones Series by George RR Martin, The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Lamb by Christopher Moore, The Giver by Lois Lowry, A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle, Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik, Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin, The Stranger by Albert Camus, Thank You For Smoking by Christopher Buckley, The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt, Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead by Tom Stoppard

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Cross-country ski trip through the mountains outside Fairbanks, Alaska culminating at the Chatanika Lodge where dollar bills are plastered all over the ceiling autographed by the world travelers who have visited and left their names on a dollar

Teach, Learn, Share

I have lots of experience with ballroom dance and cooking to share. I am interested in learning everything I can!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, France, Gambia, Mexico, Netherlands, Senegal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Gambia, United States