Good day. Goeie dag. Guten Tag!

As you can see my name is Elicia and I am all the way from South Africa. I have been living in New York since January 2016 as an au pair with a family. Therefor you can know I'm easy to live, being respectful and following rules as it is your home and I am the one privileged enough to be part of.

I grew up in South Africa and after school I did volunteer work in communities across SA which was a humbling experience. I studied Child Psychology and also worked as a Personal Assistant on a beautiful farm where we had programs breeding rare wildlife for Nature Reserves.

----- > I'm spontaneous, confident and handle life with a little sense of humor. I love getting to know who you are but feel free to be open if you need some downtime and I can balance it with relaxing and exploring the hidden gems in towns as well.

----- > I'm kind hearted but firm when needed. I love to meet new people and hear their life stories.

----- > I'm not big on partying or going to clubs and surprising enough I don't drink alcohol (but please feel free to do so! I'm not put off by being around it). I can socialize and have fun in different ways and situations.

----- > I'm fun and always up for anything you can suggest and I would be happy to experience life with you. I am also honest and open communication is the key to having a good experience with mutual respect.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

So straight up I have never done this before. I try to challenge myself and take a step out of my comfort zone as often as possible.

I am very sceptic yet curious to know how this community works and I am excited to learn more about it. I am couchsurfing because I got the travel bug about more than a year ago and I'm trying out everything from Airbnb to Uber as silly as it is.

Now I start to learn what traveling is all about, and discovering all the areas it includes. I do not just want to know about the place, history and the vibe of the city but I want to meet the everyday locals that call the place home.

Interests

• architecture
• photography
• board games
• socializing
• live music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• volleyball
• teaching
• history
• languages
• historic sites
• nature
• horse riding
• knowledge
• meeting new people

Teach, Learn, Share

As you read in the beginning I would love to teach you more about South Africa and break down the common stereotypes that is formed around it. I'm always eager to tell people about my culture and be a proud ambassador of my country. I would love to teach you about my travels through Africa and my experience of America.

I know I still have many things to learn and I am excited to get first hand knowledge from people who have experience in so many different areas. I would love to learn from your mistakes, take in your advise, listen to all the stories you have to tell and what you want and have to offer for a woman solo traveler.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I would be happy to share my views, photos and maybe if I find similar ingredients from home, then share some native food or recipes as well.

I know it can be exhausting to meet and host people all the time and I am privileged and grateful to share not only your home but your time as well.

I know we will have lots of fun, make some great memories and making my first solo trip less stressful and more exciting!

Important! I want you to know I can share my cleaning abilities as well. I would like to help where I can in the house and bring my part as well. I know you won't be expecting me to do everything as I am a guest but I do not take it for granted.

Countries I’ve Visited

Botswana, Lesotho, Mexico, Namibia, South Africa, United States, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Africa, United States