CURRENT MISSION

Tell stories with pictures.

ABOUT ME

I am a Media Studies and Communications Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois. Outside of my academic life I am a photographer and designer (let's just say I design things in Photoshop). In the little time I have left after that, I teach myself to play the piano. And then, in the slim remains of time left after that, I wish I were teaching myself to play the mandolin.

PHILOSOPHY

"History is on the side of positive social change."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Though I would love to host, at the moment I live by myself in a small apartment, which is not set up in a way that would make hosting possible. That will certainly change once I move in a bigger apartment.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I just joined Couchsurfing two days ago and I am still finding my way around it. I have a few friends who have couch surfed before and they love it. For sure, the idea behind it -- being able to find free and safe accommodation during one's travels OR meeting new people through hosting them in your home -- sounds fantastic. Furthermore, it's great that this project is living up to its promise and making travel easier, more interesting, more sociable and more affordable.

Interests

I can interest myself in literally everything. First and foremost however are photography and film, media, technology of all kinds, making my own clothes, TV, theater, pop culture (and its critics), art house cinemas, BOOKS!, learning stuff, writing, hiking, camping...

• arts
• culture
• writing
• books
• theater
• design
• photography
• cooking
• clothing
• technology
• movies
• tv
• traveling
• piano
• hiking
• camping
• communications
• history
• software
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Snatch, Man Push Cart, Eve's Bayou, Hitchcock's films, Double Indemnity, Michelangelo Antonioni, Broad City, The Americans, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Wire, The Sopranos, Radiohead, Depeche Mode, The xx, bluegrass (The Henhouse Prowlers, Punch Brothers), Bat for Lashes, The Hours (the book!… the movie too but not as much), 1984, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, anything by David Sedaris, any and all film theory, theater plays and monologues (The Dreamer Examines His Pillow), PHOTOSHOP BOOKS!, etc., etc., etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I studied abroad in New Zealand for a semester and on the way back I spent three incredible days on Viti Levu (Fiji's larger island), at a lagoon owned by a local family. It was before the tourist season began so I was the only person there and it was as if the whole lagoon was there for me. I slept in shacks on the beach at night and snorkeled in the coral reefs all day. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you a thing or two about photography, cameras and photo editing software. I can quote facts and figures from the field of Media and Cinema Studies on demand! Or tell you what happened in season five, episode five of Breaking Bad. I could also teach you Bulgarian if you are so inclined. I have also been told I make good sushi (but for that I usually need a cooking partner).

Countries I’ve Visited

Fiji, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bulgaria, New Zealand