BEFORE YOU REQUEST TO SURF WITH US, PLEASE READ OUR ENTIRE PAGE titled "My Home". If you don't take the time to INCLUDE KEY DETAILS LISTED on said page, you can expect to be turned down. Thanks!! :)

ABOUT US (ENGLISH)

We are Ilantha and Gabriel, a (married) couple of passionate and open-minded people. We love learning about other cultures. We love to dance, sing, meet new people, learn, and make a difference in the world. We love creating our marriage and spending time together and with our families. We love adventures, exploring, and trying new things! A philosophy that we strive to live by is: leave it better than you found it / make a difference / be a contribution.

Gabriel is a barber and does some badass fades. Ilantha is an elementary school teacher. She has a strong social justice orientation that informs her work with children and her commitment to equity.

FYI, we eat a gluten-free diet for health reasons.

ACERCA DE NOSOTROS (ESPAÑOL)

Somos Ilantha y Gabriel, esposos; personas apasionadas y de mente abierta. Nos encanta conocer otras culturas. Nos encanta bailar, cantar, conocer nuevas personas, aprender, y hacer una diferencia en el mundo. Nos encanta crear nuestro matrimonio y pasar tiempo juntos y con nuestras familias. Nos encanta aventurar, explorar, y experimentar nuevas experiencias. Una filosofía de que intentamos a vivir es: dejar a cada espacio mejor que cuando lo encontramos / hacer una diferencia / ser una contribución.

Gabriel es un barbero y hace unos fades bien chingones. Ilantha es una maestra bilingüe de escuela primaria. Su fuerte compromiso a la justicia social la guía en la vida y sobre todo en su trabajo con los estudiantes.

Comemos un dieta libre de gluten (trigo, harina, etc.) por razones de salud.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

We LOVE it! As far as I'm concerned, CS is the only way to travel! Intercultural exchange, local knowledge/advice, and a friendly face are priceless! (We like saving money, too, but we'd rather pay for a CS experience than stay in a hotel for free!)

We are OG's of couchsurfing (since 2009). My family and I have hosted several delightful guests, from as far as Taiwan and as close as California. Ilantha couchsurfed for two solid months in 2009, one month in the southeastern United States and one month in the Caribbean. Ilantha and Gabriel stayed with several couchsurfers throughout the US on their x-country road trip in 2014.

Interests

Dancing/Bailar: Bachata & Brazilian zouk

Culture and cultural exchange, languages, food!
La cultura, el intercambio de culturas, los lenguajes, y la comida.

Fun, learning, laughing, connecting.
La diversión sana, el aprender, el reírnos, el hacer conexiones.

Transformation, making a difference, volunteering.
La transformación, el hacer una diferencia, el ser voluntarios.

Kids and babies!
¡Los niños y los bebés!

Outdoor activities: hiking, biking, horseback riding, swimming, kayaking, walking, camping, frisbee.
Actividades al aire libre: hacer caminatas, montar a caballo, nadar, hacer kayak, acampar, jugar frisbee.

• culture
• singing
• dancing
• salsa dancing
• bachata
• civil rights
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• teaching
• volunteering
• reading books
• social justice
• kids
• communication
• empowerment
• intercultural exchange
• barbering
• #blacklivesmatter
• fades

Music, Movies, and Books

Bachata, pop en español (Reik, La Oreja de Van Gogh, etc.), música Colombiana (ChocQuibTown), Blues, Spanish flamenco, Cuban music, Carlos Santana, Camila

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Ilantha:
1) I am married to the love of my life! / ¡Me casé con el amor de mi vida!
2) I played j'ouvert in Trinidad: Hundreds of people slathered in mud and paint while chipping down the road to the sweet sounds of pan at four o'clock in the morning! (Carnaval, too!)
3) We volunteered with an amazing group of open-hearted people committed to social and racial justice and love in Selma, Alabama, called the Freedom Foundation, and helped teach their brilliant young people in their Freedom School. These people are part of the next chapter of the civil rights movement.

Gabriel: skydiving, getting married, creating a great friendship with my dad. The most amazing thing I've seen is love and humility.
Haberme tirado en paracaídas, haberme casado, haber creado una gran amistad con mi papá. La cosa más asombrosa que he visto es el amor y la humildad.

Teach, Learn, Share

Ilantha teaches: empowering relationships with children, social justice/anti-racism, Spanish, English, accent reduction, the basics of the different Latin dances, horseback riding (English, jumping, eventing) and horse care, eating and shopping gluten-free, ways to be frugal and save money while traveling and at home.
Share: I have completed the Landmark "curriculum for living." It rocks! It's all about fresh ways to think about the world, it's all about possibility! I'd be delighted to share.
I want to learn: how to cook your food, do your dance, and say hello in your language.

Gabriel teaches: hip-hop dancing and popping, tae kwon do and self-defense, the basics of the different latin dances, cooking Mexican food.
Share: He makes DAMN good authentic Mexican enchiladas, Michoacán-style. Passionate about fades/barbering.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Everything from Teach/Learn/Share above, plus, we are great guests, very low-maintenance, tidy, respectful. We love to talk, share, connect. We will share travel stories and advice for anyone interested, and ask you lots of questions about your own experiences. :) Gabriel can give you a haircut if you like! If we stay with you for several days we will cook you an epic, authentic, Mexican feast! :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Grenada, Ireland, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, Mexico, United States

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