We are a happily married couple - Eva (the blonde in the photo) and I. We live most of the time in Santa Monica, California, and some time of the year in Kishinev (aka Chisinau), Republic of Moldova. We travel as a couple, we are friendly, laid-back, and easy-going people, and are glad to socialize with interesting people all over the world.

Igor: I am a film critic, professor, and sociologist, have 5 published monographs on American "grassroots" democracy and culture. I am also a published author of more than ten monographs on American and Soviet/Russian cinematography.
Right now I am working on my next book, and hopefully, the couch surfing experience and mainly the people I'll meet will be my inspiration.
** As a hobby Eva used to study music at Santa Monica College. She also has a degree in psychology earned in her hometown. At the moment she has a job as a Russian teacher in Monterey, CA.
*** We are non-smokers. Igor goes to the gym a couple of times per week.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a unique chance to meet interesting people from all over the globe, to learn from within about the city/country, to ask questions that might never occur to me if I were just a tourist following popular tourist trailers, to share our views and experience with others.
Igor is also interested in interviewing people with unique backgrounds and ideas.

Interests

• writing
• photography
• politics
• classical music
• travel
• reading books
• video
• dining out
• good conversation
• ethnic food
• facebook
• study music

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC: Classical Music, Jazz. We are in love with Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov to mention just a few. Eva is managing some of the pieces by them these days.
BOOKS: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Thomas Wolf, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov and memoirs.
MOVIES: biopics, political thrillers, arthouse, European directors...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I met my wife Eva who performs miracles every day :-)
I truly love her.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am democrat and liberal who is against dictators of any kind. My country Russia is in deep trouble right now. I am a political immigrant and “foreign agent” - a highly popular label nowadays in contemporary Russia.

What I Can Share with Hosts

We have one bedroom apartment with a small reclining sofa for one guest. Very close to the ocean beach and to Venice and Pier.

Intelligent conversation over a cup of good coffee;
Amazing traditional Russian cuisine like bliny and pelmeni;
Piano playing (I'd say Eva is a talented advanced beginner)
We can also help you with your Russian homework :-)
Sightseeing in Los-Angeles and Moldova
My books in Russian

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Georgia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bulgaria, Moldova, Russian Federation, South Africa, Ukraine