TRAVELLING IN FEBRUARY--UNABLE TO HOST

Hi! I'm Gaby, I am Colombian-American and I grew up in California. I appreciate spending time painting & creating art, meditating, being in nature, singing and playing guitar, and swimming in fresh water. I speak Spanish, English and some French.

I love to wander and get lost in nature and in cities; walk for hours and happen upon new and unique experiences; curl up in cozy cafés and bars with new people and music.

I am very open-minded and tolerant, I am completely accepting of any sexual orientation, beliefs (as long as you are tolerant and kind too), religions, cultures. I believe in equality for all genders and sexes.

I am very relaxed, friendly, easy to get along with. I am fascinated by people, and when I travel, I love to get to know the people of the city as much as possible and really understand my hosts' and guests' minds. I love meeting people and spending time getting to know them and finding out what we have in common and share our different cultures, languages, traditions... I think the best thing about making new and diverse friends is being able to peek into their world and realize how human we all are-- differences are just as amazing as similarities in a friendship.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am fascinated by people, and when I travel, I love to get to know the people of the city as much as possible and really see my hosts and guests. I love meeting people and spending time getting to know them and finding out what we have in common and share our different cultures, languages, traditions... I think the best thing about making new and diverse friends is being able to peek into their world and realize how human we all are.

Couchsurfing is amazing in more than one way-- save money, get to know people from all walks of life and open your eyes to their world, and create a community and bonds all over the world.

Interests

I love to draw and paint; I am always very excited to see friends' artwork, paint together, explore museums solo or with a friend.
Some of my favourite artists-- Klimt, Richter, Rothko
I am interested in all forms of art; I love singing, dance (although I'm not very good :')), live music & concerts, art festivals, photography, performance art etc.

My dog, Luna. She's a catahoula hound, we go on long runs together through the hills and she chases coyotes!

I love to cook yummy and healthy food - I make great salads, pasta, quinoa bowls, hummus, and pastries.
I think my favourite food is probably broccoli and/or chocolate.
Favourite drinks: COFFEE, wine, water (in that order?)
I am vegetarian/pescetarian and interested in organic, sustainable, local farming; eating foods that come from the earth and whose cultivation does not destroy the earth. That being said, I do eat meat when I am travelling if my host prepares it for me or it is part of a cultural dish that I may never try again; I think trying all kinds of food is part of experiencing other folks' world.

I LOVE to go to farmers' markets!!! Locally grown food, beer, wine, fresh produce are rad and I would be so happy to try your city's local food.

I also am fascinated by modern architecture, sustainable design, simple and intelligent design (small/mobile, houses, good use of space), industrial and graphic design.

I love languages and listening to the linguistics and similarities between languages. If you speak multiple languages i would absolutely love to learn from you!

Being ACTIVE is my religion!!! Exercise keeps me spiritually, emotionally, physically entered. I love strenuous hikes, backpacking, snowboarding, running, and triathlon. I would love to swim/ bike/ run through your city/town or nature with you. I think cycling and running are some of the best ways to see new places and get to know people.

I also enjoy practicing yoga and meditation. I am interested in exploring my spirituality and growing in my mind and perspective, and I would love to talk with you about your religion(s), spirituality, beliefs, thoughts...thought provoking stuff and deep conversation!

My ideal time at a CS host's place or while hosting someone: sharing some wine, walking through a city, enjoying delicious coffee and talking about anything at all, seeing art and live music, cooking together, LEARNING ABOUT YOU & sharing about myself!

Music, Movies, and Books

Music!!!
Alternative/Rock: xxyyxx, Majestic Casual, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Angus and Julia Stone, The Paper Kites, Arcade Fire, the Kooks, the Shins, alt-J, James Blake, Bon Iver, Sun Daes, Cat Power, Chet Faker, Flume, Phantogram, Eddie Vedder

Reggae: Tribal Seeds, SOJA, Sublime, Rebelution, 311, Slightly Stoopid, Dispatch, The Expendables, Common Kings, Iration, Pepper

Oldies: Grateful Dead, Paul Simon, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Police, Elvis Presley, The Cure, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepellin

Hip-hop/RnB: Joey Bada$$, Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Souls of Mischief, People Under the Stairs, OutKast, A Tribe Called Quest, Curren$y, A$AP Rocky, Drake, J. Cole, Jhene Aiko, Frank Ocean

I love so much to hear new music from hosts/guests and experience what you enjoy!

Books: The Glass Castle, The Alchemist, the Secret Life of Bees, Harry Potter, Gone Girl,

Movies: I LOVE independent films, documentaries about social and environmental justice, psychological thrillers, adventure movies.
Incendies, Amalie, Run Lola Run, Inception, Shutter Island, Boyhood, Dogtooth, The Shining, American Beauty, Moonrise Kingdom Into The Wild, Bodas de Sangre, Almodovar movies

Shows: House of Cards, American Horror Story, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Scuba diving for the first time in Tulum, México with my mom next to some of the most incredible creatures I have ever seen.

Bucket list:
Live in an Ashram and live a yogic lifestyle
Climb the mountains in the Himalayas
Bungee jumping
Climbing Kirkjufell mountain in the Icelandic islands & seeing the northern lights
Backpacking through Southeast Asia and South America
Mushing through the Alaskan tundra
Cycle up the coast of California: from Santa Barbara, CA to Oregon
Learning how to surf really well
Build a sustainable garden in my backyard
Live a 0-waste lifestyle
Explore Patagonia, Chile/Argentina and climb the volcanic mountains of Futaleufú

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: Spanish, English, my warmth and friendliness! I love to laugh and joke around with hosts/guests. I also bake and make pretty tasty scones, granola, and pies, I'd love to share that with you :)

Learn: Your languages (I would love to learn Portuguese, Italian, brush up my French, any languages at all other than English!), your favourite music, recipes, art and your culture and thoughts.

SHARE: Conversation!!! I am eager and excited to truly get to know friends' MINDS and HEARTS through conversation, learning about your roots and background and sharing mine with you, exchanging stories about travel & ADVENTURE, and learning your thoughts and beliefs!

What I Can Share with Hosts

My friendly, open-minded, GENUINE personality. My biggest principles are HONESTY and KINDNESS. I do not judge people before I know them; everyone has their own story to tell and I think that's beautiful. I share about my experiences and thoughts openly when I am opened up to- If you are comfortable conversing with me, I will be comfortable talking with you :)

My cooking :) I also am neat and respectful, so if you host me, I of course will help clean as well. If I host you in Granada, I'd love to show you some great tapas bars, beautiful hikes in the Sierras, cute cafés, incredible views during sunset, and live music around the city. If I host you in Santa Barbara, I can take you surfing in the Pacific Ocean, hiking in the mountains, to great cafés and my favourite restaurants, and do bike rides along the coast.

Countries I’ve Visited

Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, France, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Colombia, Spain, United States