My name is Elena, but most of the people call me Lena. I was born and grew up in a medium city near Rio de Janeiro, and I still live here while I'm in college. I study psychology and I am a big enthusiast of learning new languages and meeting new places, specially international ones. I am very talkative, a little neat freak, but super open-minded.
I love reading. Reading was the first thing in my life that took me out of my comfort zone, and I carry a book wherever I go. I also love watching movies, listening to good music (any kind!) and meeting new people. My goal is to meet as many places as I can.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I think the best way to know a country is to know people who live there. People can be very different and are always enchanting: they are the life of a place. I intend to start travelling by myself because I really want to get to know the natives, and Couchsurfing seems like a good place for me to start this idea.

Interests

• arts
• coffee
• yoga
• pilates
• running
• movies
• music
• cultural studies
• gender studies
• psychology
• public policy
• social science
• healthy lifestyle
• cooking and baking
• drinking beer
• studying languages

Music, Movies, and Books

I love russian literature. Fiódor Dostoiévski is my favorite writer, but my favorite book of all time is The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera.
I also love The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath; The Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. Salinger and most of the books by Machado de Assis, an amazing brazilian writer that everybody should have the chance to read.

My favorite movies are 2001 - A Space Odyssey, by Stanley Kubrick; Persona, by Ingmar Bergman; Arrival by Denis Villeneuve and the whole Star Wars and Back To The Future franchise.

My currently favorite TV show is Mad Men, but I love Breaking Bad, Friends, Gilmore Girls and Mindhunter.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Trekking wearing flip-flops. I know it sounds stupid, but I must say it was a really peculiar experience. I had no idea of the height of the mountain (1755 meters, to be specific), but I got to the top of it and survived.

Teach, Learn, Share

Staying with someone you don't know is a challenge. Everything becomes a learning if we face things the correct way, and I am pretty sure that opening yourself, your house, your heart, whatever it may be, to someone else is a huge thing nowadays. We are so afraid of other people, and sometimes I just don't know why.

We should believe more in ourselves - and it includes leaving behind the comfort zone and facing unknown experiences.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I must say I'd recommend my cooking skills, and I really love to talk and listen to other people. I am the kind of person that goes with everything: we can go to the club, to the museum, grab a beer or just drink coffee, stay home and talk. As long as I'm in good company, everything's good for me.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil