I grew up in a bilingual suburban Catholic household and traveled into Chicago often. We kept various toads and frogs as pets through the years.

I keep multiple journals at once (including one about my painted finger nails).

I take every opportunity I have to visit a new city, try a new dish, learn a new skill, dance, etc.

I dream of getting lost deep in the Amazon and being rescued by a pink river dolphin.

I think spatially and can navigate well.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To see the world and live like a local.
To meet new friends.
To learn.

To share in the journey of life.

Interests

History, Plants, Journaling, Music, Sports, Latin dancing, updating my family tree

• pets
• dancing
• ballroom dancing
• coffee
• running
• gardening
• board games
• music
• sailing
• sports
• soccer
• hockey
• track and field
• genealogy
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Opera, Latin music (from salsa to sertanejo), selection of well-represented artists in my collection: Arcade Fire, Beach Boys, Ben Lee, Bomba Estéreo, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Glen Hansard, Ingrid Michaelson, Mat Kearney, MGMT, Passion Pit, Phoenix, Stromae, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Thomas Rhett, Vampire Weekend

Movies: Top Secret, Les Paraplouies de Cherbourg, E.T., La Vita è Bella, Millions

Books, a selection of favorites: Dorling Kindserly reference books, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J.K. Rowling), Between Shades of Grey (Ruta Sepetys), The Things They Carried (Tim O'Brien), Einstein's Dreams (Alan Lightman), Wonderstruck (Brian Selznick), My Brilliant Friend (Elena Ferrante), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Victor Hugo)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Played (American) football on high school boys team.

Teach, Learn, Share

Sports and board games: Favorites include sailing, ultimate frisbee, hockey, Settlers of Catan. I would be willing to join in and play with you or teach you.

Running: I ran cross country and track in high school and I still run casually. Running is best with a buddy, so I can pack my running shoes.

Dancing: I have taken some swing dance and ballroom dancing lessons and I have salsa-ed with South Americans. No promises, but I would try my best to teach you too.

Languages: We could practice any of the four I have gotten into. I would also be willing to learn the basics of a new one too.

Plants: I like plants in any context. For example, if you have a garden, I would help out.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Local delicacies! Feel free to make a request. Here are suggestions:
If I come from Chicago, I can bring Eli's Cheesecake.
If I come from New Haven, I can bring Claire's Lithuanian Coffee Cake or a Pepe's pizza.

I can also share my knowledge and experiences. I hope this one would be a two-way street.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, Panama, United States