Hi, my name is Julia. I am an architect from Russia. I came to the USA to gain a master's degree in Urban Planning at the University of Washington. And I brought my husband, Nikita, with me to explore this new country!

Before that, I worked as an architect in Moscow. I am passionate about creating human-scale, walkable, and sustainable cities, so my professional work is generally focused on creating urban public spaces and parks. If you are interested, feel free to ask for my portfolio!

My husband and I love to run and hike, and we are always eager to explore local trails. In my free time, I enjoy sketching cityscapes and nature while Nikita captures our adventures through photography and video (his travel vlog is here: https://youtu.be/IzicviXRW7c?si=4o__pY-PTNm_4o8x )

We look forward to meeting new people, sharing stories, and exchanging cultural perspectives!

My personal Instagram: @juliazarechkina
My sketches: @jamaica_ltd

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am looking for new experiences and friends!

Interests

- traveling: as an architect, I am passionate about new cities!
- hiking: I dream to do hiking in Mt Rainier Park
- cycling: I have a gravel bike
- running: I ran 10K race last summer
- snowboarding: I have snowboarded since the age of 13
- visiting museums: I enjoy historic museums the most

• running
• movies
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• snowboarding

Music, Movies, and Books

Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings fan!

I now read mostly professional literature; my favorite book about urban development is The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs.

I like mostly rock, folk, and pop. My teenage love was Green Day. Now, I love Radiohead, the Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, and Imagine Dragons. I also love classic oldies—David Bowie, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and the Queen.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Volunteered for San Francisco Marathon, Moscow Marathon, Moscow cycling community

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can talk a lot about city development in different countries! I can make a short presentation showing my hometown and my professional architectural projects in Russia and the USA.

Countries I’ve Visited

Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Russian Federation, United States