Hey! I am Ella :)
I love people; I love art + photography; adventure; seeing the beauty in the everyday. I am passionate about nature and mountains, and I am committed to making this world fuller with tolerance, equality, peace and cohesion. There are so many things that spark my fire: trying out new things, cities, countryside, nature, conversation, aesthetics, dance, music, running, hiking, camping, early morning swims, language, learning, loving. Always inspired, always active!

I come from Cape Town, South Africa, a super complicated and beautifully diverse place that has informed much of my thinking and feeling towards the world. There, I studied Fine Arts, worked a few years, and then, just over one year ago I moved to Padova in North Italy to pursue a Master's course in Human Rights.
What or where is next? The terrifying and exciting question of life.

Values: Open-mindedness, curiosity, kindness, empathy, tolerance, effort, trust, gratitude, antiracism, equality.

I would like to meet you and hear about your life :D

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have been a member since 2014, and I have not yet actually tried out the platform...
I think my deep interest in people and curiosity for life makes me sooo eager to try out the Couchsurfing, finally, in 2023 :D Spontaneous meetings can have really impressionable or meaningful results.

Interests

I would say I am a generally 'interested' person: for me, every activity has potential to bring pleasure and learning; the greatest fear is that one lifetime is not enough for it all!

Ask away if you have specific questions.

• arts
• culture
• singing
• photography
• environment
• human rights
• running
• clubbing
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• camping
• languages
• mountains
• travel
• adventure
• dance
• conversation
• veganism
• handcraft
• socialising
• climate change
• debate
• lgbtqi
• electronicmusic

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Electronic (Techno, House, DnB, Electro, Left etcccc) , Jazz, World, Ambient + more.

Movies: I recently watched Boy (2010) and loved it.

Books: I last read Always Another Country, by Sisonke Msimang.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked high up in the Nepalese Himalayas (and got stuck there because of the pandemic).
I also made a big art installation from steel frames and 1000s of discarded plastic bags, cut up and crocheted into colourful material.

Teach, Learn, Share

Open to it all.
'The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls.'

What I Can Share with Hosts

Some stimulating conversations
Cooking
A bottle of wine
An adventurous walk about
A night out / A night in
My curiosity, my interests

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, South Africa