Hello couchsurfers. I've been living and teaching English abroad for the last 30 years, and come home to the US every summer to visit my aunt and uncle in Westlake Village, CA, who are like my mom and dad. I currently live in the UAE (Middle East) which gives me access to a wide range of contacts and friends from all over this region. I am a professor at a large women's university. I love academic subjects and am a life long learner of physics, languages, sociology, psychology, and history etc....If you want to know about this region (the Middle East) I wouldn't mind engaging in some thoughts about it; I'm extremely interested in Judaica as well--I lived in Israel for a number of years. I love dining out and good conversation. I'm hoping I can be of support to anyone in any way I can along the road of life. I know that we are not here forever but I have found "being in the moment" helps to make time feel ever present. By the way, I am 62, but I am quite fit and energetic.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I would like to meet people when I come back to California in the summer as most of my friends there have moved on in various ways. I DO have three good friends remaining in Tustin, Fresno and Albuquerque, but they are a bit far. My aunt and uncle live(d) in Westlake Village, but my aunt died in the summer and my uncle is living in special arrangements. My aunt, uncle and I used to attend United Methodist Church in Westlake Village when Dr. Garey Dickey was the pastor and he knows me very well.

It would be nice to stay with someone so I could visit my uncle for a few weeks (3?) a number of times while I'm on my summer vacation. Plus, I've been around Westlake and it is so peaceful and nice, and I bump into people who seem highly educated and interesting. America has changed a lot, and I would like to hear more about what people think of all that. It is certainly so different in the US than over here in the UAE, although surprisingly, the young people in the UAE ARE changing in many similar directions as the young people in the "West."

Interests

• walking
• movies
• reading
• swimming
• academic subjectds

Music, Movies, and Books

I love all kinds of music and movies, I'm truly a world citizen when it comes to those areas. I don't usually read non-fiction but I love biographies and factual types of things such as history, sociology and psychology.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have been to Afghanistan during war times, and it was an intense experience. The kindness of the people, the beauty of the country, and the challenges of traveling there were something I will always remember (also in Sierra Leone around the civil war). I've done a huge amount of work with people at a lower level of subsistence.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am very interested in knowing the philosophy of life of other human beings that help them live successfully. Maybe someone can teach me to cook! I hope Gelsen's is still there! They have an AMAZING deli. I used to spend 50 dollars a day there (which was a lot a couple of years ago). Maybe we can grab some food and bring it home to a nice movie.

I have had a life full of travels and adventures, and I have a ton of academic knowledge in my overloaded brain regarding such a wide range of subjects.

However, regarding people and friendships, I feel that there are three friendship levels. 1—When we share time and do activities together 2—When we support each other in times of difficulty 3—When we push each other to achieve our goals and be better people. I would also add that we need to be able to reflect, and examine our own shortcomings in our relationships, but this if definitely not always easy.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have a background in counseling, international affairs and languages. I am here to listen to anyone who wants to share their unique life with me and how they came to be in the place they are now. I would support anyone in the challenges of life be that with family, children, money, some psychological issue, etc….I believe in peer structured listening where a friend just gives the floor to another friend to talk exclusively for a set period of time. I think that is very healing and satisfying for both.

I would love to take a walk around the neighborhood, go to a movie, go out to eat at some exotic restaurant, visit a nature reserve, go swimming together (but not in the cold LA water!), etc…I would love, love to vist Tijuana (love the food, and people).

Countries I’ve Visited

Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Iran, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Israel, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates