CURRENT MISSION

To explore with eyes wide open in a possitive way

ABOUT ME

Hi there, my name is Gabriel. I was born in San Jose, Costa Rica and although I do like it and feel proud of my peaceful volcanic land, I felt I needed a bit more experiences than can be packed in those tropical and very wet 51000 squared km. So I accepted a job in New Zealand and after 2 years and, although I have come to love Wellington (and would love to come back and consider settle here someday), now I'm getting ready to a new job in Melbourne, Australia.

I love to read and draw. I draw since a little kid and considered doing more illustration work but couldn't quite see that happening on my home country, so I'm intending to give it good go at it again while staying in Melbourne which looks like an inspiring place to raise pictures and paintings in.

PHILOSOPHY

I could give all to Time except - except
What I myself have held. Buy why declare
The things forbidden that while the Customs slept
I have crossed to Safety with? For I am There,
And what I would not part with I have kept.
- Robert Frost

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Initially I would be warming someone's kindly offered cozy couch, but once I'm stablished and settled I would like other people to stay with on mine =)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Before moving from Auckland to Wellington, I stayed at a friend's house on Waiheke Island momentarily. I have never been helped in this way and it just opened my mind on how grateful one can be on such ocassions, specially with today's crazy housing/hotel market prices which make temporary stays a luxury. Because of the nice experience, later I though of giving something back while staying in Wellington and offered a place to stay to a friend from Spain.

Interests

Drawing, illustration, reading, festival/foreign movies, talking, outdoors.

• illustrations
• festivals
• movies
• reading
• drawing
• guitar
• piano
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• kayaking
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Rainer Maria Rilke, Hermann Hesse, Robert Frost, Milan Kundera, Ayn Rand, Paulo Coello..

Music: Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Lamb, Mozart, Ani Di Franco, Tanita Tikaram, Brooke Fraser, Julieta Venegas, Joaquin Sabina, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Alux Nahual, KT Tunstall and any music discovered from unfamiliar times or cultures.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Seeing lots dolphins passing by and kayaking while hearing the peaceful calm waters of a peaceful bay near Picton, New Zealand.

Riding my bike through the Golden Gate bridge and surrounding areas at dawn.

Seeing the sunset from a mountain overseeing the shore in Waiheke island.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to share anything artsy and positive: good/ecological habits/customs, spirituality (any religion), guitar, piano, drawing, spanish, etc.

Countries I’ve Visited

Singapore, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, New Zealand