CURRENT MISSION

Learning as much as I can!

ABOUT ME

*** As of the 24th of August I am no longer based in Guelph! So sorry, I am more than willing to help those with questions!!***

Hello everyone,
I'm Polina, and I'm excited at the possibility of meeting new people and travelling the world. the
COTW in my user name stands for "citizen of the world", and I see myself as such because I feel like I could become comfortable in any place that I end up in. My family has gone through 2 immigrations in my lifetime as well, so I have had a varied and interesting childhood as a result.

I've just graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. I can honestly say the decision to go to school here has been one of the best ones I have ever made. I learned a lot, but its really the people in Guelph which make it an incredible community, and anyone considering passing through should definitely do so!

I enjoy many things in addition to travelling, such as gardening, bicycling, dancing, meeting new people, learning new things, cooking and eating good food, listening to music and taking long walks (a beach doesn't necessarily have to be involved!).

Currently I'm a vegetarian, though I have been vegan in the past, but this doesn't mean that I am militant or will lecture anyone about this choice I've made. I'm more concerned with food security and production these days and love discussing anything related to it.

I find it really hard to sell myself as a good person, but I can assure you that I always rescue snails from sidewalks on rainy days, I always pay my taxes and I always floss my teeth :)

PHILOSOPHY

Never say never. This sounds cheesy, but it is very true.

Don't restrict yourself from anything, especially feelings, and especially things that stimulate the senses..

Money isn't everything, with the right attitude you will always find a way.

The stressful parts of movies always last 20 minutes.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I used couchsurfing as a tool to meet travellers and welcome them into the places where I was living. Mostly though I used it as a traveller when I was looking to get to know new places from the point of view of the locals. This summer I will hopefully be able to provide a couch, as I will be living in lovely Guelph (which is beeeaauuutiful in the summer time!) with some lovely people in a lovely house.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first experience couchsurfing was absolutely jawdropping. I couldn't believe that in this day and age people as generous as my first host existed. He made sure my friend and I knew about all the interesting places around, he made sure we were comfortable and well fed, and he even put up with our cultural differences, and when we thanked him for hosting us, he was SURPRISED.
What a great guy.. This sort of attitude makes me want to keep participating and contributing to the idea of selfless giving to others who are also curious and interesting enough to go out on a limb and stay with *gasp* STRANGERS!!

Interests

Bicycling, spending time outdoors, music, a good night out on the town, a good night in with a cup of tea, silly jokes, dancing, languages & linguistics, gardening, food security, puns, knitting, cooking, watching movies, a good conversation or two, waking up early and going to bed late!

• diy
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• vegetarian
• vegan
• fitness
• gardening
• movies
• traveling
• knitting
• music
• outdoor activities
• agriculture
• history
• languages
• science
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Hmm.. well, I do have favourites but I like to appreciate all kinds of music. in the summer of 2010 when I lived in Germany I was exposed to more Balkan music and I love it!! Also I really appreciate music from Southern Ontario, where I am from.
Here is a list of bands worth knowing: First Aid kit, Lake of Stew, Rich Aucoin, Fleet foxes, The Wooden sky, Evening Hymns, Animal Collective, The Idan Raichel Project, Explosions in the Sky, Joel Plaskett, Xavier Rudd, Iron and Wine, Ben Harper, Gordon Lightfoot, Craig Cardiff, The Acorn, Bell Orchestre, Bocce, Devendra Banhart, Broken Social Scene, Adam Green, Broken Bells, Mason Jennings, the Good Lovelies, Do Make Say Think, Jon Brion, Patrick Watson....
I like pretty much anything with a banjo or a really good bassline, or anything that'll make me dance!

Movies: Too many to list. If I were to pick 3 though they would be Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2 Days in Paris, and Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Books: I really like historical fiction, as a pure influence from my father. If you have any reccomendations I will definitely look them up! David Sedaris has been keeping me laughing recently, and my
all time favourites include (but are not limited to) Angela's Ashes, White Oleander, The Giver, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Memoirs of a Geisha.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

This one is best saved for a conversation :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to talk about food, agriculture, physical fitness, cultural identity, history, linguistics, DIY projects, and I love to help people work through any problems (big or small) that they may be facing.

I have spent 3 months as an intern on an organic farm and can share knowledge about gardening, horse keeping, personal epiphanies I have had on this farm and any ideology related to this.

I like to take a little bit of every person that I meet with me... an idea, a story, a lesson, a joke, or a lock of hair perhaps? (just kidding)

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