Dancing has been my passion for 6 years but I'm actually taking a bit of a break from it to backpack through Europe. I'm incredibly excited! I feel, lately, as though I've hit a plateau in my own self growth. My goal is to experience many new things, meet people, exchange ideas and dreams, and break through what's holding me back from growing!

I used to weigh 143 kg(315lbs) and be addicted to video games. Crazy, right? Most people don't initially believe me. When I was 18 I decided that things needed to be different and I somehow summoned enough willpower to completely turn my life around. I changed my diet and started going to the gym for 1-2 hours every day with the help of my eldest brother. After 5 months I had lost 41 kg(90lbs). During that time I had started social partner dancing. The reason was simple: I was extremely shy and awkward and my communication skills were terrible/nonexistent. I needed a way to get better at talking to people and also a fun way to exercise. To me, dancing was perfect.

In the summer of 2013 I backpacked through Europe for 3 months. It was the first time I had ever left the country and it completely changed my life. Before I was only focused on what was around me. In my own city, my own state. But after traveling I started to understand just how big the world is and how many different people there are.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe the more you know about the world and the people who live in it the better. Always being curious and striving to learn new things will allow you to live life rather than just be alive. With each new thing I learn I am able to see the world in a completely different way. It's fascinating and inspiring. It's like watching a picture being painted. At first you can only see the barest outline, the sketch. Then darker lines start appearing, followed by detail. Colors mix and match -- breathing life into the picture. I have found that learning from someone who is passionate about what they do is the most fulfilling way to acquire knowledge and experience.

"No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire."
- L. Frank Baum

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To learn and share.

The couchsurfing community is truly special to me. It allows you to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds, make friends, travel to places you normally would not be able to and so much more. Ultimately, I participate in couchsurfing because it allows me to enrich other's lives as well as my own.

Interests

Freedom, Happiness, Self-Improvement

As I've said above, my biggest interest is in dancing.
Dance styles I know:
Blues
East coast swing
Fusion

Dance styles I'm learning:
Tango
Ballroom

Other interests of mine include:
Hiking
Scuba diving(I have not scuba dived but am very interested in learning)
Traveling
Backpacking
Anime
Reading Korean, Japanese, and Chinese web novels.

Learning -- The feeling you get when you learn something new or grasp a new concept is indescribable. Expanding what I know and making new connections, overwriting previous conceptions and always challenging myself to think in different ways.

• swing dancing
• anime
• hiking
• kayaking
• mixology
• blues dancing
• social dancing
• fusion dancing
• learning about different cultures
• learning how to cook different cuisines

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: There are many movies I enjoy. Genre-wise I prefer action, comedy, suspense, thriller, mystery, and documentaries. The one genre I do not like is horror. I've just never been able to find joy in being scared.

Music: To be completely honest I'm terrible at classifying music in genres. There's too much music to talk about. I'm always interested in discovering something new, so please share your music with me and I can share mine with you =]

Books: Fantasy fiction is my favorite. Book series such as:
The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss
The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch
The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
The Powder Mage Trilogy by Brian McClellan
etc, etc, etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I hitchhiked from Krakow, Poland to Budapest, Hungary in 6 hours with one driver.I only stood on the side of the road for about 20 minutes...Then, I got to Budapest and, surprise! My passport was back in Krakow.

I was on my way to Croatia, which you still need a passport for since it's not part of the Schengen Area. If not then I would have just had them mail it to me. So, I decided to hitchhike BACK to Krakow.

On the way back to Poland it took me 14 hours, 7 drivers, lots of creative swearing at the empty air after waiting for hours at some points to be picked up, and I passed through 4 different countries.

It's honestly one of the best memories of my life and I'm incredibly thankful I had that experience.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach:
English, massage skills and concepts(I actually work as a massage therapist), anatomy, kinesiology, East Coast Swing and Blues dancing, how to mix different cocktails. I can also share my love of various kinds of alcohol and the stories and facts I've picked up along the way. Yes, I enjoy drinking, but I also enjoy the history and creation of what has largely shaped many civilizations and cultures.

I'd love to learn:
What you're passionate about.
About your culture and your experiences
Scuba diving
Rock climbing
Solo dance
Cooking
Where to hike near where you live
How you've traveled on a tight budget and any tips you may have
What your favorite drink is

What I Can Share with Hosts

Everything that is listed above as well as stories about my travels and my culture. I'm an enthusiastic listener and love hearing other peoples stories. If my host has an injury or is not feeling well I can offer my massage skills. I can share various cocktails I've discovered and created through my travels.

I believe the most important thing I can share with my host is an exchange of cultures, ideas, dreams, passions and lots of positive energy!

I'd also love to share a drink!

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States