Well hello there :) I'm Brina, a 23-year-old Californian with a slight (okay, HUGE) obsession with dates (the fruit) and am a self-proclaimed breakfast enthusiast. I spent four amazing years at UC Santa Barbara (aka paradise) where I got my BA in Psychology (no, I can't read your mind, sadly) and soon after graduation, embarked upon a 9 month backpacking journey through India, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand. This was an extremely transformative and enlightening time, as I learned to live minimalistically and was exposed to many harsh (but also beautiful) realities that are experienced by other living beings in the world. I vowed to return home and be the best version of myself and to appreciate all that I have. I currently live in a small city and have been itching to travel again since I last returned, so here I am... About to head off on another (albeit shorter but hopefully equally epic) adventure!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

During my time in India, I decided to give Couchsurfing a shot after hearing about it from other travelers, and... WOW! I was blown away by the kindness and generosity of all of my hosts and never felt like a stranger or a guest but like a friend being welcomed after a long time away. Travel to me is all about learning how others live and doing things outside of one's comfort zone, and I think that Couchsurfing is perfect for that because it allows us to see just how similar others are to us, and to learn to relate to others despite differences in core values or cultural norms. I hope to one day host other Couchsurfers at my own place (once I move to the city) and to return the favor and the kindness that I experienced.

Interests

I have always loved dancing from a young age, and have recently become more interested in building up my strength so began to practice yoga. I enjoy being outdoors and walking (it really is the best/most underrated form of exercise). The past several months, I have become a lot more comfortable in the kitchen and have been extensively experimenting with vegan recipes... Ever since transitioning to the vegan lifestyle, I have felt so much better physically, emotionally, and spiritually and cherish every opportunity I get to share my culinary creations with others!

• writing
• dancing
• cooking
• yoga
• reading
• traveling
• hiking
• languages
• volunteering
• veganism

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Odessa, Kygo, Sia, Flume, Lost Frequencies, Robin Schulz, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Michael Jackson, Madonna

Movies: Silence of the Lambs, 22 Jump Street, Home Alone, Earthlings, Cowspiracy

TV shows: Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why, Master of None

Books: 1984, Eleven Minutes, Life of Pi, Eating Animals, Siddhartha, Things Fall Apart, Shantaram,

Teach, Learn, Share

-I can teach you how to make some epic vegan food and how to veganize pretty much anything! I can also teach you some Californian slang words that will be sure to impress your friends ;)
-I would love to learn new languages, recipes, games... Anything really!
-I can share some funny travel stories with you, as well as some cute photos of my dog :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I will bring a positive and open-minded attitude and am eager to share more of my culture with you, and am also excited to learn more about you and your culture! :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Ecuador, England, France, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Scotland, Singapore, Thailand, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States