CURRENT MISSION

To meet (and draw!) kind and interesting people, and vow to never live a life of monotony.

ABOUT ME

They would probably say that I am a quiet, small person, haha! Not very loud, but very friendly, and always looking for an adventure or new experience. :) I am also very frugal, creative, and like to joke around once I know you. I also love to discuss ideas and make art - I especially love drawing other people and would be more than happy to make a piece of art for you while you're staying with me or hosting me.

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've been lucky enough to both host and be hosted by some amazing people, I hope to meet other CSers traveling to the bay area, show them the wonderful things in the city, cook and share delicious meals, and hear their cool life stories.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Hanging out with CS members (and being hosted a couple days) in London and Dublin - wonderful people who I will miss! I've hosted a few people in Berkeley as well. I think it's a great way to meet people you wouldn't otherwise get to know, and to experience different ways of life.

Intereses

I'm passionate about teaching - for the past 5 years I've taught elementary school art in Richmond and Oakland. Most recently I worked with a program that prioritized social justice and community involvement with Oakland youth. I also grew up in high poverty schools and want to use that experience as a way to connect with and serve my students in the best way.

Aside from teaching, I am passionate about making art! I've painted for years and remember drawing with my mother on big pieces of paper on the floor when I was barely two years old. I've sold and exhibited my work in local galleries and coffee-shops and love knowing that people can see it and feel intrigued or relate to it somehow. I mostly paint surreal portraits dealing with the concept of symbiosis, feelings of connection, reliance and uncertainty. I also love to work with charcoal, ink, and various mixed media.

I love to walk and explore the Bay Area, especially my home "quirky Berkeley". I'm a big public transportation advocate and believe it's the best way to get to know the Bay. I'm slowly learning more about urban foraging and cooking with wild foods - we have an abundance of fruit trees, herbs growing along the water and on sidewalks. I love the days when I can collect handfuls of cherry plums, wild blackberries and fennel and make something delicious.

I'm very into street-scavenging and re-purposing things people have thrown away. Most of my furniture (and a lot of my clothes, haha) I found on the street, cleaned up, and gave a new home.

• arts
• cooking
• coffee
• traveling
• painting
• drawing
• teaching
• videogames
• exploring
• foraging
• ska
• bay area

Música, películas y libros

ska, rap, chillwave, punk, indie, oldies (40's, 50's, 60's, 70's), singer-songwriter, and most recently discovering k-pop. i like going to cheap local shows!

i love to watch films of most types, old and new. my favorites:
paper moon, pather panchali, tuvalu, studio ghibli movies, amelie, rope (hitchcock), waste land, the sting, lo, pan's labyrinth, little shop of horrors, slumdog millionare, the odd couple

although i used to read voraciously when i was younger, work has given me less free time. my favorite books, i must admit, are the books i loved as a child - especially the witches, by roald dahl. frightening and genius! :) i also enjoy lolita, caramelo, and john steinbeck's novels.

in college, i co-taught a children's literature writing/illustration class and also wrote a draft of my first children's book. i love children's lit for its honesty and rawness in trying to take a look at human experiences.

i'm also moderately into videogames, things like Limbo, Fran Bow, Hohokum, Fez, off the top of my head. point and click adventure games are pretty cool and i have a sort of ritual of playing costume quest every halloween. i like to watch horror game playthroughs as well. :) ah, and my partner and i recently made our first platformer game together!

Algo increíble que he hecho

My first time coming to San Francisco and feeling excited and at home.

Enseña, aprende, comparte

I would love to help people practice painting or drawing. I am also pretty good at editing essays, and being a bargain-hunter, haha. :) I play the ukulele a bit but would like to improve!

Qué puedo ofrecer a los anfitriones

I live very close to the Berkeley Marina, so I can show you the beautiful waterfront and hidden little nature spots. I've lived in (and walked all over) Berkeley for 5 years now and know a lot of great local gems: bookstores, weird hiking spots, strange houses and architecture and gardens, dog parks, playgrounds, historical spots, and of course places to eat.

Países que he visitado

Ireland, United Kingdom, United States

Países en los que he vivido

United States