I am a professional stage manager, lighting designer, and general technician for theatre, dance, and opera––I especially love teaching and mentoring my students. If there's one thing I love having as a hobby, it's doing genealogy research with my mom (because travel is always involved). Play violin, continuing to learn cello and guitar. I also own a banjo and trumpet now, because why not add some more to my busy life 😂

One aspect of my life that’s very important to me is being Jewish. That, and being very close with my family who is Muslim, Catholic, and Bahá’í. If someone has an issue with me being Jewish or is intolerant of people with varying beliefs and/or identities… then no need to be Couchsurfing buddies :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet other people who may just happen to share a similar love for travel, food, books, music, or the (performing) arts, and through exploring the world break down the barriers that can keep us from forming deeper connections with others around us.

Interests

Continually learning and experiencing new things are major passions in my life. Some of my top interests are getting to know others and turning strangers into friends, traveling (maybe kind of a give-in on CS), photography, writing poetry, learning new languages, studying religions/spiritualities/philosophies, and live music. When traveling to a new country, I will take the time to learn even a little of the national language before arriving, so as to be considerate and open to the people I meet.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• books
• poetry
• photography
• concerts
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• reading
• traveling
• music
• live music
• cycling
• hiking
• teaching
• history
• learning languages
• mentoring

Music, Movies, and Books

Books, play(wrights), authors: There will always be too many to name... Harry Potter, always. Tana French, "In the Woods" + "The Likeness". Non-fiction and memoirs. Classics by Dickens, Brontë, Austin. Poetry, currently reading Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre. Aristotle, Artaud, Brecht, Chekhov, O'Neill, Mamet.

Film: Anything from rom-coms, dramas, and thrillers to foreign cinema.

Music: Again, too many artists and bands to name. Big band, swing, classic rock, alternative, 80s pop, R&B, indie, 90s boy bands, classical, baroque, jazz. Alternative and indie are my go-tos when throwing something on.
Particularly into contemporary artists as AURORA, Sir Chloe, girl in red, Twenty One Pilots, Bastille, The Killers, Pvris, Misterwives, Ludovico Einaudi, Max Richter, Sleeping at Last

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I can give you my top 5 favorite travel memories (in no particular order):

*climbing a mountain in Ireland
*watching the sunset against the rooftops of Jerusalem
*driving through the woods surrounding a beautiful lake in eastern Germany
*traversing the dusty paths between giant-height rock walls to stand in front of Petra's Al Khazneh
*stargazing while working at The Santa Fe Opera

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories of my travels abroad, genealogy research knowledge, and a ready ear for another's stories.

I could also teach you how to focus a theatrical lighting fixture...or about color theory (light). Give you a violin lesson. Cook a vegan meal. Write a song together 🙂

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Honduras, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States