Panama Version:
Living in Panama. Studying 4 classes/semester via online classes to finish my engineering B.Eng. I don't get out much, and I especially can't go out alone at night to local establishments as the men here don't take no for an answer. I have a distinct dislike of many aspects of Panamanian culture (partially due to the fact that I was raised in a Colombian-loud-party-culture while being an introvert, shy child, always being pressured to join in the parties. All I ever wanted to do as a child was hide in the basement and play games. I hate having to say goodbye to every single person when you leave a party. So, I've never really wanted to relive latin culture because it brings up bad memories of my youth, which as an adult I've desperately tried to run away as far from ) But here I am. Life in Panama is not as easy as it was for me in Australia, and I'm having minor depressive episodes, although never really becoming actually depressed. These "episodes" are caused by lack of adult social contact. So if you meet me I will instantly be cheered up because talking to pretty much anyone (who is not Panamanian) will automatically lift my mood. Unfortunately these days most of my adult interactions are with Panamanian cashiers and clerks, and boy does that make you question a lot about life. Mostly, is this how life is supposed to be? Is it wrong to automatically trust people? Why don't they look up from their phones when I enter the room? Why is having any job more important than having meaning in your job? If I were wearing makeup and did my hair, would they treat me better? Why does this guy keep insinuating that I should leave my husband and get with him? Why do I only like the chinese-panamanian cashiers? Do they treat me better? (actually, yes) Why do I have to change to fit into this culture? Am I going to stop being nice and friendly if I stay in this country too long?

Australia Version:
Living in Australia for 7 years. First 2 years I lived in Brisbane with my partner, and now we have been in Sydney for 5 years. Just this past year I have really started to love Sydney, for all its harbourside views, its sunshine, its beautiful picturesque scenery, it's places to hide and be isolated yet be so close to the city. At first I only did the touristy things, but when you start exploring local places, it becomes even more amazing. We live 2 blocks from the Parramatta River, and there are parks and pathways, mangroves and sand alcoves/bays where nobody goes except for old men and their dogs, or you can be by yourself and have the dog from the property 20m behind you barking at you. You can walk 10min and visit a spot with existing aboriginal middens! I like to imagine the aboriginals breaking open oysters, spear fishing, and sitting in the alcoves, building up their middens. That is, before the colonists came in and stripped the land and farmed and all the silt got washed into the river and silted up the river. Still beautiful river though.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Panama version:
We have an extra bedroom with two extra single beds. We don't have a live in maid. Why rent a fancy hotel in Casco Viejo when you can sleep in a cozy room for free?

Australia version:
I recently met up with an old high school friend who mentioned using couchsurfing, and how some of the people she stayed with would show them around and give them better ideas of local things to do. I guess I want to open up my world to new experiences, and to get new experiences you need to meet new people.

Interests

Australia Version:
Running and trying to train for a half marathon, which hasn't happened yet due to injuries and other circumstances.
Ultimate Frisbee-ing.
Playing clarinet in a community band.
Drinking in pubs made out of sandstone.
Drinking in pubs not made out of sandstone.
Exploring new places in Sydney.
Going for a run around the Bay Run and then drinking a cappuccino and eating a $9.50 breakfast at a cafe in Drummoyne. Routinely every weekend.
Oh yea, and working. I love my job. =]

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC: My own personal Chill/mood lifter/listen while cooking/listen while sitting/listen while on laptop spotify mix contains these artists: Courtney Barnett, Mansionair, M83, Empire of the Sun, Bastille, Ellie Goulding, Caribou, Four tet, John Newman, Four Door Cinema, The Wombats, Worlds End Press, The Temper Trap, MGMT, Dandy Warhols, The Piano Guys, Glee covers (of course), Ra Ra Riot, The Jezabels. I'm really into local Sydney music, or at least I'm trying to be.

MOVIES: In A World...., Princes Bride, Spinal Tap, Midnight in Paris, Les Miserables, Hitchock movies, anything that is emotional and makes me cry or has people crying in it constantly. I've been having a huge craving to watch Ghost Writer recently, must see it again for some reason. I like a lot of other movies, mostly movies that Roger Ebert has given positive reviews.

TV SHOWS: Parks and Recreation, Californication, The Office, Arrested Development, 30 Rock, Game of Thrones of course.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Did my Advanced Diving Certificate whilst on a Live Aboard Scuba diving trip to the Surin and Similan Islands off the west coast of Thailand. This trip is where I experienced getting "narked" (narkosis) when I was 30m deep, and I've never felt so happy in my life, it was just this awesome feeling, not safe to be like that for too long, but felt so good and all the fishies seemed so alive and happy. Also, we spotted three stone fish at Richelieu Rock, and I experienced the instructors being so into diving and enjoying themselves so much. And I also learned on this trip that I DO get seasick. And I saw tons of CHRISTMAS TREE WORMS! They are my favourite!

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: How to properly grow a blueberry bush.
Learn: Something you know that I don't know, and can't think of right now because we live in our own little boxes only preferated by small holes where only some of the light comes in, and it's hard to experience the full sunshine until someone comes by and takes that box off your head.
Share: Lots of movies and tv shows.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Two bicycles - 1 large mens and 1 small womens.

Countries I’ve Visited

Colombia, England, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Panama, United States