CURRENT MISSION

I worked with refugees in Athens after volunteering in Micronesia as a literature teacher. Now trying to get into international development and humanitarian aid

Finding my place under the sun

ABOUT ME

My friends call me Ariela International - I have had the chance to study in Paris for my master's for 5 months, work and travel in the US for 4 summers, live in London for 5 years, volunteer in the Pacific in Micronesia for a year and work for the EU in Belgium. Not to mention all the roaming I have done in Europe, US, Egypt, Jordan, Asia, Brazil, New Zealand etc). Life is grand!

If you have any ideas for trips, let me know - my next targets are possibly Latin America (involving some hiking) or Africa (safari).

PHILOSOPHY

Experience...learn...grow...- and connect the dots.

If you want to read what travelling has taught me or just rant, read my blog. I'd love to hear your thoughts: https://arielfreespirit.wordpress.com/

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Meeting locals during my travels or where I live, organising fun activities around the world wherever my travel takes me next.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I organised an 11 day hike in the Swiss Alps with 8 other couchsurfers of 8 different nationalities who met for the first time by the cable car in Chamonix - a real success.

I went hiking in the Lake District with a fun crowd. Had lots of laughs and a great time.

Interests

Cultures, what makes people happy, what motivates them, dancing (zouk lambada, salsa, bachata), travelling, photography, theatre, musicals, shows, stand-up comedy, languages, writing, art

• literature
• photography
• dancing
• bachata
• yoga
• music
• hiking
• backpacking
• teaching
• languages
• volunteering
• travel
• art
• theatre
• zouk
• stand-up
• interculturalism

Music, Movies, and Books

Music is all about mood - so I listen to pretty much anything
(except heavy metal or too much electronic music), from Damien
Rice, Jason Mraz to The Drifters, Lady Gaga, The Source, Wayne
Wade, Aaliyah, MIA, U2, Kings of Leon, Billy Idol, Pointer Sisters,
Etta James, UB40 and so on. I like songs, not artists.

Mr Nobody, The Fountain (blew my mind), Devil's Advocate, Forest Gump, Chick flicks (yes,sorry) like The Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind or Newness.

Mercure by Amelie Nothomb or The Perfume by Suskind - quite freaky
books. Though now I tend to be into autobiographies to see what
helped shape people.

I love musicals (to the point that I've seen more than 10 - Phantom
beats them by far) and stand up comedy.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

hiking the Haute Route in France/Switzerland
backpacking in Asia with few travel arrangements made (which is pretty incredible for a control freak like me) which took me to the brink of despair a couple of times and keeping a log of the things I've learnt from the people I met en route
lived in the middle of the Pacific ocean for a year - only told my mom 5 months in I was no longer in London

Teach, Learn, Share

My learnings as a result of my travels can be found on my blog: https://arielfreespirit.wordpress.com/

What I Can Share with Hosts

My experiences and my passions

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Brazil, Cambodia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Micronesia, Federated States of, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, France, Greece, Micronesia, Federated States of, Romania, United Kingdom, United States