Hi there! My name is Dera. When I travel, I am most interested in good food and good people. I will probably ask you for ice cream recommendations if I stay with you. I spent the first 20 years of my life living in various places in the US. I've lived in every time zone in the US and have been exposed to all sorts of cultures.

Currently, I am living and working in Berlin.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

When I moved to Berlin, I was worried that my first Christmas was going to be miserable and lonely because I wouldn't be able to fly home for the holidays. A few days before Christmas, I received a text from a native Berliner whom I had met at a party. He invited me to his home for a Christmas Eve celebration. I had no idea what to expect, but I was happy to have someone to share the holiday with. That Christmas ended up being one of the most memorable Christmases of my life.

It turned out he is a Couchsurfing host, and there were about 10 other people that night from the Couchsurfing community. We were from all over the world. We shared food and drink and had great conversations.

One of the best parts of the night was when we took turns sharing music from our respective cultures, and we all danced to the music. The host was so sweet, as were all the other guests. I got teary-eyed at one point. I really felt the holiday spirit.

This was a "faith in humanity restored" moment for me. Of course, I don't expect every Couchsurfing experience to live up to the standards of holiday magic. But I trust that there are other kind humans out there, and I would like to meet them!

Interests

-Food
-Music
-Learning languages

• writing
• concerts
• dining
• socializing
• music
• languages
• linguistics
• german
• comedy
• spanish
• japanese

Music, Movies, and Books

Let's save this part for our conversation :)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent my senior year of college living in Kyoto with a host family that doesn't speak any English. My Japanese definitely improved!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm happy to answer any questions you have about English. I'm a huge grammar nerd, and my bachelor's degree is in applied linguistics.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My favorite music! I love to talk about music, and I listen to many genres and in many languages! I can also give you tips for where to go if you ever visit Berlin.

Countries I’ve Visited

Hungary, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United States