CURRENT MISSION

To avoid, by all means necessary, turning into Natalio Ruiz, from the song "Natalio Ruiz, el hombrecito del sombrero gris" By argentine band Sui Generis.

ABOUT ME

I want to start by saying I'm not this very happy, fulfilled person. I have many unsolved questions about life, myself, and other people. Also, I believe happiness comes in little, sporadic dozes, just enough to keep us going on through our daily struggle. That means also that I believe one can find happiness everywhere, at anytime. Happiness, in that sense, is not about money, and it's not about the house you live in, the car you drive, and the stuff you have.

I love how living abroad has changed me and made me grow up so much, but also how under the surface I'm still a kid, and I still get excited by the simplest things in life. I wish to never lose that.

Some personal data too: I was born in Bolivia, which is in South America. I'm 25 years old (will be 26 in september). I come from a somewhat big family (I have 4 sisters).

I'm crazy about movies and music, and I love that feeling of sadness when I finish reading a book that's just too awesome (happened last time with Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami). I'd like to say I'm very open-minded, but I guess that, since I come from a rather conservative upbringing, I'm not as open-minded as other people. Anyway, I always try not to judge and I avoid telling people how to live their lives.

PHILOSOPHY

I think happiness is not a matter of how much money and success you have in your life. Happiness is all about how much you love what you do, the people around you, yourself.

Things, beauty, youth, are not in your life to stay.

Also, there's a great part in the lyrics of a Calle 13 song. In spanish, it goes like this:

"No lo tengo todo planeado, ni la vida resuelta. Solo tengo una sonrisa, y espero una de vuelta"

Which could be roughly translated to:

"I don't have it all planned, nor my life ensured. I only have a smile, and I expect one in return".

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm currently trying to expand the couchsurfing network in my country, but I think I'll be more effective once I get back there...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have couchsurfed 3 times: 2 programmed and 1 accidental.

The first time, I stayed in a very great guy's house in Brussels. It was one of those experiences that opened my mind, and made me start to left behind some conservative structures, that were outdated anyway.

The second time was in Amsterdam. This time, Murphy's Law hit me and my friends very hard: all that could go wrong went wrong, and I had to leave before expected. I will always be sorry about that with my host, and I hope someday I'll be able to make ammends, and really retribute for his hospitality.

The third time was a tricky one: it was 3am on jan 1st 2013. Me and a friend were stranded in the middle of Amsterdam, moneyless and soaking wet. We didn't have a way to communicate with our friends, and then this friend proposes me to go to his host's house, as a last resort. I went there and explained my situation (my host and I had agreed I would go to his house at 11am the next morning), of how I'd lost my friends and couldn't communicate. This man, who could have said "sorry, you can't stay", took me in. I've never been more grateful in my life, and I still am.

Interests

Music. Movies. Books. Other Cultures. Epicness. Walks. Different Food. Randomness. Wine. Beer. Crazy drinks. Different Cigarettes. Video Games. Long Kisses. Writing. Photography. Street Art. Languages. The sound of the sea. And many, many more.

• arts
• writing
• books
• street art
• photography
• beauty
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• drinking
• movies
• video games
• reading
• music
• languages
• law

Music, Movies, and Books

Wow, music, what can I say? I like many things, from The Beatles to The Black Keys, from Billie Holiday to Adele, from Bach to Ravel. Music is what keeps me alive.

Movies, that's a tough one. I prefer independent films, and in general films that you don't normally see in theaters, and that don't get as publicized as others.

And books, I love novels. Favorite book ever: The Little Prince.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Lake Titicaca at 5-6pm it's unreal. Also, the vastness of the Salar de Uyuni. A tree so big you need several people to surround its base in Madidi National Park. The view of the Illimani mountain from Camacho Ave. in my hometown. The sound of the wind in the bolivian Altiplano.

Also, southern France in early autumn.

Teach, Learn, Share

Wow, what could I teach? Maybe some spanish? Maybe a lot about my country and it's wonders? I'm a terrible cook, let it be known!

Learning... I'm open for EVERYTHING.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Peru, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bolivia, France