Hi! My name is Anastasia. I recently quit my job to start exploring the world rather than watch my life go by from behind a desk. I want to see how other people live, eat food from all over the world, and smell the air from faraway lands.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'd like to travel for as long as possible, so keeping costs to a minimum is important. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind spending money on things I enjoy, but I'd rather allocate that toward an outing, equipment rental, transportation to a new place, or food rather than sleeping accommodations. I'm young, so I don't mind roughing it right now :)

Interests

Pretty much anything that challenges my mind and body. I love to exercise and be outdoors. You may call me a thrill seeker, but I also enjoy laying in a hammock with a good book. I LOVE new experiences, seeing new places, meeting different people, hearing about their adventures, hiking, snowboarding, climbing anything, helping/feeding/playing with animals, horseback riding, reading, naps, and anything that makes my heart feel like it's going to jump out of my chest. I'm also interested in volunteer work and learning about sustainable living, so if you know of any opportunities please share! I recently became a member of wwoof Thailand and WorkAway.

• animals
• books
• beauty
• dining
• exercise
• reading
• traveling
• volunteer work
• outdoor activities
• equestrian
• hiking
• snowboarding
• rock climbing
• volunteering
• wwoof

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm quite eclectic and embrace all types of music. Recently I've been exploring Zulu/Swahili vocal chorus/choir (you know that amazing sound at the beginning of the Lion King, yeah that stuff). I also consistently listen to electro music, anything you can dance to, tribal music, country, blues, soul, acoustic singer/songwriters, the list goes on. As for movies, I love documentaries, but also enjoy the blockbusters as well. Not really into foreign cinema but maybe that's because I haven't explored enough. Books - I've been flip flopping between spiritual reads (Tolle) and my suspense novels (huge James Patterson fan!). Right now I'm reading Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins - so good!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I climbed to the top of Volcan Concepcion on Ometepe Nicaragua and poked my head in the volcano. That was pretty amazing.

But even more amazing than that? I quit my secure job back in October 2014, got rid of many of my possessions, and bought a one way ticket to Thailand. I essentially left a life that I've known for 27ish years to put myself in an extremely unfamiliar and uncomfortable situation, and I'm SO HAPPY I did it...

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach, Learn, Share - I never want to stop any of this. This is why I want to travel. I want to interact with as many people as possible. This is how you evolve. I believe everyone has something to contribute. What can I offer? If you ask those who know me, they'd probably tell you that I see beauty in everything, and I make it a continued practice to stay present. My physical body can die tomorrow, and I intend to make my life a corollary of that belief.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love to laugh, smile, eat amazing food, and take care of my body. I can have amazing mid blowing conversations with you, or sit quietly and enjoy each other's presence. I grew up cleaning homes with my mother, so I am very tidy and don't leave a big footprint in anyone's space. I always want to give more than I receive to show my appreciation to the generous people in this world, so I will always ask you if there's something I can help with.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States