Hello, and nice to meet you! I’m Elisa. :)

I was born, grew up and currently live in Desenzano, a town that I both love and hate.

At 19 I took a gap year and lived in England. Leaving home, stepping out of my comfort zone and experiencing life in a different country had a huge impact on me. This experience is what helped me the most to discover and bring out the open-minded, curious, and adventurous side that today is a fundamental part of who I am.

In 2023 I travelled solo for four months in Southeast Asia, balancing sightseeing with volunteering at local projects.

I’m now a psychologist specializing in psychotherapy and teaching Italian as a second language. I’m lucky enough to have a job that gives me the chance to interact daily with people from different countries and cultures, which always enriches and deepens my understanding of the world we live in.

If I had to choose a 書き初め (kakizome, the traditional Japanese first calligraphy of the year), mine would be “growth”. I love to see how experiences can impact on us and make us evolve, and I’m trying to constantly improve as a human being. That’s why I’m happy to be inspired and learn from people who are “further along” in their journey than I am, like monks, activists, or even you!

Pourquoi je suis sur Couchsurfing

I discovered Couchsurfing during my gap year in England, and I loved its spirit and purpose from the start. I immediately realized that meeting locals and experiencing authentic life in the place you’re visiting is what travelling is truly about, and Couchsurfing is an amazing tool for that. “But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you’ll learn things you never knew you never knew.”
I have used it many times in Europe and Southeast Asia as a surfer, and I’m deeply thankful to all the people who opened their homes to a stranger in a foreign country, making it possible to sometimes make new friends. Now it’s my turn to reciprocate. :)

Centres d'intérêt

I really enjoy downtime: reading a book, watching a movie, going for a walk, sometimes also doing jigsaw puzzles. I like both watching and playing sport (running, cycling, volleyball, rock climbing), and I really enjoy trekking and being out in nature.
I also love spending time with my friends, hanging out in a bar, eating good food, or playing board games.

• folklore
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• puzzles
• music
• piano
• cycling
• sports
• rock climbing
• volleyball
• psychology
• languages and cultures

Morceaux de musique, films et livres

My favourite music genres are rock, metal, and classical music, but I’m always happy to discover different music, no matter the kind or the language. I don’t really like pop summer hits though.
Among my favourite movies are The Lord of the Rings, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, La Grande Bellezza, Billy Elliot, Good Will Hunting, and Her. I’m happy to discover movies and series from other countries!
You’ll rarely find me without a book, and I like discussing them.

Une aventure extraordinaire que j'ai vécue

Snorkelling in the Red Sea as a child.
A cycling trip all around Lake Garda (I would love to do more and longer ones around Europe!).
Taking a gap year after high school despite the pressure to conform and follow the “beaten path”.
Travelling solo for four months in Southeast Asia, having eye-opening experiences and meeting incredible people.
Trying Vipassana meditation in a Buddhist monastery in Thailand.
Visiting Japan after years of dreaming about it.

Enseignez, apprenez, partagez

I’m happy to help you practice Italian and to share what I’m learning about psychology.
I truly enjoy listening to other people’s stories and sharing my own perspectives and travel experiences.
I’d love to learn something about your country’s history, culture, society, language, and of course food! As a jigsaw puzzle nerd, I like to think of everything I learn about the world as pieces of a puzzle that slowly come together. :)

Pays que j'ai visités

Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malta, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Pays dans lesquels j'ai vécu

England, Italy