**COUCHSURFING IS NOT A DATING WEBSITE - I am tired of getting requests and messages from men with clearly flirty intentions- NO, I DON'T WANT TO HANG-OUT WITH YOU - spare your and my time**

*Currently not able to host but maybe available to hangout*

Hi, I'm Emma, I know that my name sounds German but I was born and raised in Italy so, my mother tongue is Italian. I studied German, English, and Spanish as additional languages. In short, I am currently living in South Tyrol, a geographical area with which I have a deep connection with nature. I finished my Master's in Eco-Social Design with a special focus on the fermentation of food as a catalyzer for (g)local resilience. I just started my PhD in Berlin which focuses on entanglements among design, microbiology, and anthropology.

In the summer of 2021, I traveled 4 months through Europe during which I visited friends, made new connections, and learned new skills touching on topics like sustainability, material production, and microbial processes. In recent years I worked as an academic research assistant in the field of Bio Design, developing new materials from regional biodegradable byproducts. I am quite interested in anti-speciesist (aka vegan) and pro-intersectional content.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As probably most people on Couchsurfing I really enjoy knowing new people and share time, knowledge, capabilities, and precious moments. When I travel, whenever I go, I love spending time with 'locals' to know history and stories about places and to live more realistic experiences. I like to learn from others' genuine life experiences and try wild stuff in nature. I also love cooking delicious vegan meals for whoever hosts or is hosted by me! I love to build genuine connections based on respect, open-mindedness, heartfulness, and helpfulness.

Interests

Sustainable and bio-inspired materials, spirituality, self-growth, radical self-research, genuine connections, wild nature experiences, challenging my limits, open new doors of conscience, and promoting mutual enrichment.

• design
• running
• cycling
• rock climbing
• travelling
• veganism

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Had cold baths sawing the surface of a frozen lake and survived
Crossed a rived with high current
Took an amazing baechu-kimchi course
I hold the record of 160 dumplings made in just one session
Learned how is it possible for insects to have rainbow reflections on their elytra
Cried for two hours with a very special person learning about connection and vulnerability
Climbed in Valparola in the Dolomites
Researching on a novel sustainable biomaterial made with microorganisms and food scraps
Co-founded a pro-intersectional organization for animal liberation alliesforliberation.org
Helped build a Cob house in Finland
Designed an open-source bioreactor to grow cellulose
Found a way to make a 100% compostable substitute for polystirene
Currently researching on tempeh ig: @tempehof

Teach, Learn, Share

I would love to learn more about:
100% plant-based recipes
Fermentation techniques
Hardcore climbing
Handstand
Meditation techniques
Hardcore acro-yoga
Spirituality
Travels
Alternative lifestyles
Life-changing books

What I Can Share with Hosts

Cooking
My experience in living as a vegan (5 years)
My experience as an animal rights activist
Meditation
Acroyoga
Climbing
Running
Wim Hof breathing techniques
Cold baths
Fermentation techniques

Countries I’ve Visited

Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Italy, Spain