I go by Elana, Lala, Lanie, or whatever creative name comes to mind. I was born and bred in the suburban sprawl of Maryland, USA; between D.C. And Baltimore. My childhood was filled with imagination, a wooded backyard, countless family camping trips, and unforgettable summers of bare feet and sunshine. That's translated fairly distinctly into the core of my current-day being- an energetic young woman on a quest for barefooted adventures in sunshine! I love to dance, perform, read, garden, create, identify plants, hike, swim to mossy sea islands, experience live music, connect, heal, laugh hard, kayak, grow food, travel, and play with animals, babies, and old & new friends. I work as hard as I play, and crave the feeling of being purely physically exhausted from a long day outside. I try to embody the phrase "Live the life you love!"
Since graduating from undergrad in Colorado, I've taught English in Thailand, worked and studied Hebrew on a kibbutz in Israel, and bounced around the states on various road trips, following seasonal farm, camp, and adventure guide jobs. I recently finished an herbal medicine intensive training program in Ithaca, NY, and will be headed to Costa Rica and beyond to continue this education once winter hits here. In the Spring, I'll be working at an herbal medicine garden near my hometown in Maryland, so am squeezing in some exploratory travel time now. I'm as interested in sharing my stories as I am in hearing yours!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To connect with other curious, fun-loving folks in fun places I'm curious about.

{Full disclosure}: I've been part of this site for a few years, but haven't had the chance to host anyone yet. I'm a total noob...hopefully not for long!

Interests

way too many interests to fit into this box, but I'll name the top ones that come to mind:
-live music-- especially funk, folk, blues, and anything that makes the people git down
-dance-- experimenting with movement, watching dance performance
-books-- juicy fiction, classic lit, wilderness field guides, cookbooks, memoirs
-plants-- medicinals, perennials, foods, tiny intricate delicate ones
-mountains-- I dig hiking a lot
-food-- flavorful, unexpected, wholesome food-- cooking it!
-travel (which I guess goes without... typing..)

• animals
• books
• performing arts
• dancing
• education
• dining
• cooking
• gardening
• traveling
• music
• live music
• blues
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• boxing
• swimming
• teaching
• history
• medicine
• tourism
• road trips
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Music favorites (always expanding):
Tedeschi Trucks Band; Bonnie Raitt; Etta James; The California Honeydrops; The New Mastersounds; Erykah Badu; Rising Appalachia; Norah Jones; The Grateful Dead; Brother Ali; Buddy Guy; Stevie Ray Vaughn

Movie favorites:
Wes Anderson films; O Brother Where Art Thou; When Harry Met Sally; Annie Hall; 20 Feet from Stardom; The Big Lebowski; Empire Records

Book favorites:
-Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
-Half-Broke Horses, by Jeannette Walls
-The Teachings of Don Juan, by Carlos Castaneda
-Wild Fermentation, by Sandor Katz
-Possible Side Effects, by Augusten Burroughs
-Just Kids, by Patti Smith
-The House of the Spirits, by Isabelle Allende

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I through-hiked the John Muir Trail with two sprained ankles a few years back. Took 19 days. Ate a lot of peanut butter. What was really amazing was cresting the tallest peak in the contiguous U.S. (Mt. Whitney) in pitch-darkness. Allowed for the most breath-taking sunrise of all time.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach about medicinal plants, wildcrafting, medicine making, cooking, healthy eating, fermenting food, making salves/lotions, dance, gardening, and basic jewelry making. I want to learn about the way people think, where funky spots are in new towns, history of cultures, innovation, limitations, Spanish!... I'm willing to share openness and whatever loose leaf teas I have floating around in jars in my car. Oh yea, I can offer rides! I'll have my car on this excursion Southbound, so you're welcome to come along for the ride.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share stories, laughs, respect, compassion, and an overall willingness to cook, clean, and help out with anything! I am an entirely independent woman who loves to walk out the door and spend the day immersing myself in a new setting. All I need is a safe place to lay my head. :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Israel, Mexico, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Israel, Thailand, United States