ABOUT ME

I am a dancer and dance/yoga instructor who works with youth in schools and detention centers in my native California. I have lived and worked abroad a lot, and I love immersing myself in other cultures and languages. I live with 5 other adults and 2 kids in a big apartment in Oakland, an amazing city to live in!

Soy bailarina y instructora de baile y yoga, y trabajo con jóvenes en escuelas y centros de detención en mi tierra natal, California. He vivido y trabajado en otros países, y me encanta sumergirme en otras culturas e idiomas. Vivo con 5 adultos y 2 niños en un apartamento grande en Oakland, una ciudad increíble!

PHILOSOPHY

We are all perfect on the inside... the work is to peel off the layers that keep our light from shining.

Adentro, tod@s somos perfect@s.... el trabajo es pelar las capas que impidan que nuestra luz brille.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have been wanting to host couchsurfers, but I've always had too many roommates. I hope to host in the future! But I am happy to meet new people and introduce them to my city when I can.

Interests

Dance of all kinds, yoga, playing soccer, learning languages (I'm currently learning Arabic and looking for a conversation buddy), social justice, popular education, psychology, hiking, being at the beach

• dancing
• flamenco
• ballet dancing
• education
• cooking
• yoga
• instructor
• gardening
• hiking
• soccer
• teaching
• languages
• psychology
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Movie-wise, I usually stick to foreign films and documentaries. Music: almost anything - favorites are Flamenco, Brazilian Reggae, West African and Arabic music even though I usually don't know what they are saying. Favorite books: tales of far-off lands, spiritual stuff (The Untethered Soul is a favorite) and lots of nonfiction (I've read Pedagogy of the Oppressed three times!)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm currently working at a high school in Mexico City with students who were pushed out of the public school system, learning a lot and teaching practices for building nonviolent school environments and social-emotional skills.

Teach, Learn, Share

Can teach share: yoga, dance (Flamenco, ballet, contemporary, samba, salsa), cooking, a love for watching soccer, English/Spanish/Portuguese conversation
Would like to learn: to play percussion, speak Arabic, how to garden

What I Can Share with Hosts

Positive spirit, open mind, language exchange, and healthy vegetarian food!

Countries I’ve Visited

Chile, Cuba, Italy, Morocco, Palestine, Slovakia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, Colombia, France, Mexico, Paraguay, Senegal, Spain