CURRENT MISSION

to keep breathing, loving and laughing

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

While I have not technically "CouchSurfed" before, when I first traveled in Mexico, many years ago, everywhere I went, people I'd meet (often families), would invite me to their homes. In fact, when they discovered I was traveling alone without a specific agenda or destination, people were often insistent I stay with them, even offering me the best bed in the house. This kind of hospitality and generosity made a huge impression on me. Upon returning to the U.S, I've tried to follow the example of those who hosted me, and open my heart, home and community to those who come from other lands. This has led to many years of activism regarding immigrant rights, and volnteerism as a bilingual interpreter and advocate for those who've come to live/work in California, and found themselves faced with the challenges of a 'not so hospitable' culture.

Interests

I'm interested in all forms of creative expression, especially music and dance. I love languages, and everything that brings people from diverse backgrounds together. I'm into sustainable, ecological living...growing food organically, spending time in nature, and getting around with alternative transportation. I'm really into laughter...finding humor in almost anything imaginable. Oh yeah, I'm crazy about my dog, Buster...he's in the picture above. I'll miss him when I travel.

• dogs
• culture
• dancing
• dining
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• guitar
• piano
• drums
• blues
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

some music i like: nueva trova/canta nuevo (ex. sylvio rodrigues, pablo milanes, mercedes sosa), leticia servin, eddie palmieri, ruben blades, alanis morisette, sweet honey and the rock, michael franti and spearhead, sheva, yair dalal, led zeppelin, neil young, crosby stills and nash, bright eyes, gillian welch

some books i've enjoyed are: Kite Runner, Legacy of Luna, the Alchemist, Illusion, Love in the Time of Cholera, To Kill a Mockingbird, Eat, Pray,Love
Also, most writings by David Sedaris, Anne Lamott, Arundhati Roy

Teach, Learn, Share

I play piano, hand drums and guitar(have played in blues, folk/rock, latin jazz and judeo/arabic bands), and would be happy to teach/share what i can.

I've also been very involved in helping the neighborhood I live in (in Santa Rosa, California) become more like a village. I organize music jams, get togethers to share food and resources, and projects that bring neighbors from diverse backgrounds and ages together to know eacother, help eachother and enjoy eachother. I'd be happy to share with anyone information about this, as I believe we've reached a point on this planet where people need to reach out to eachother more, consume less, and find ways to be more caring and respectful of eachother and the earth.

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