Hi, Couchsurfers! My name is Hayley Hirshland and I'm a 26 year old polyglot (English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish), hip-hop fanatic, and professional natural bodybuilder who LOVES to travel, eat, explore, and learn.

My hobbies/talents include:
• Knowing every lyric to all Drake and Childish Gambino songs
• Picking up heavy items and putting them back town
• Bharatnatyam dance (classical Indian dance)
• Eating ice cream in large quantities

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I currently live on the Izu Peninsula (Shizuoka Prefecture) and work at the Town Hall. Prior to that, I worked in golf television in corporate Tokyo. Shizuoka may be known for Mt. Fuji and green tea, but I promise that there is more to this varied prefecture than meets the eye! Please come visit to experience the "real" inaka (countryside) of Japan if you're not feeling the "Golden Route" (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka). It's a completely different experience! We have the freshest squid sashimi in the nation and are the largest producer of wasabi in the world. We also have amazing geo-parks (Dogashima, in particular), if you're into hiking and natural scenery!

Interests

• indian food
• organic food
• fitness
• exercise
• bodybuilding
• outdoor activities
• sports
• extreme sports
• good food
• bharatnatyam

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
• I exclusively listen to Drizzy Drake or Justin Bieber (not true...or is it?)

Movies:
• I'm not a movie or "show" person, but I'm obsessed with the Food Network and Ina Garten.

Books:
• The Woman in the Dunes (Suna no Onna), Kobo Abe
• No Longer Human (Ningen Shikkaku), Osamu Dazai (amongst other depressing Japanese novels)
• In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan
• Cooked, Michael Pollan
• Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods We Love, Simran Sethi

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Riding a tiny horse in Inner Mongolia whilst drinking baijiu mixed with unpasteurized yak's milk was dope.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My extensive time spent throughout Japan (high school, post-college, etc.) can give you insight into the things Japan has to offer outside of the typical "tourist" attractions. I also live in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, which will really allow you to immerse yourself in the culture and experience a side of Japan that many people do not have access to. I hope that if you come to Izu, we can exchange thoughts, ideas, and learn from one another, and hopefully I can visit you somewhere on the other side of the world as well!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United States