[I don't have Facebook, but I do have a blog. I've put up some of my photos from my trip! Check it out if it interests you: www.worldaccordingtoaya.com. Photos are under "Europe".]

I was born in Kiev, Ukraine, though I moved to Canada at age 7. That largely explains the languages I speak: Russian because we spoke Russian at home (I understand and sort of speak Ukrainian, too, but not at all fluently...), French because in Canada it is mandatory in schools to learn French (and then I fell in love with it), and English because...well, it's mandatory in Canada, ha ha.

I recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in history. I love history -- especially Soviet history. There is something grim and austere about Soviet history that I find bizarrely alluring.

Some other tidbits: I love to read. I really like stories, especially other people's stories. I love talking to people, and particularly having interesting conversations. I also love to learn, and if I could have it my way, I would spend the rest of my life just doing that: learning. I don't know that that generates much revenue, though...

On languages: In addition to Japanese, I'd really like to learn German and Arabic. I'd also like to rediscover Ukrainian -- gotta keep up with my roots!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love travelling and meeting people -- and I especially love hearing other people's stories! (Again, I really like stories...)

Plus, I love foreign cultures and want to learn as much about them (all of them, if possible, though it probably isn't) as I can.

Interests

Reading, writing, history, languages, cultures, documentary films, physical and mental health/well-being, and, of course, travelling.

• writing
• documentaries
• cooking
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• blogging
• tennis
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
The Lord of the Rings.
Anything by Jane Austen.
Harry Potter.

Movies:
The Lord of the Rings.
Bourne Identity.
Blood Diamond.
Inception.

Music:
Movie scores (especially LotR score; Inception and Blood Diamond are amazing, too).
Calm/relaxing trance and chill-out music.
Songs with great beats and profound lyrics. (Sorry, I guess that doesn't tell you all that much...)

What I Can Share with Hosts

English/French/Russian lessons! Also tennis lessons, if you'd like -- and I'm not kidding.

I'm also a pretty good cook -- not a world-class chef, of course, but given the right ingredients and time (and sometimes recipe to follow) I can whip up some pretty tasty meals. Or so I'm told, anyway.

Countries I’ve Visited

Dominican Republic, Egypt, Mexico, Netherlands, Ukraine, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Ukraine, United States