Hey there! My name is Karina, I'm 29 years young, and I'm from the United States. I'm enamored with the travel lifestyle and anytime I live sedentary for too long I begin to get itchy. Because of this, I curated my career as a travel nurse which has enabled me to live all over the US, including Hawaii and US territories. At this point I have no desire to stay put in one place! Last year I decided to take a break from nursing to backpack around the world uninhibitedly, and I am so excited to be on this adventure. I love the challenge and excitement that comes with exploring a new place, of experiencing the culture, and most of all, meeting new people! I would consider myself an adventurous, empathetic, and outgoing individual. I am laid-back, respectful, and usually down for whatever (especially new experiences). I am an extreme animal lover. I'm just as happy sitting in a hammock reading a book as I am doing a triple back flip out of a plane at 18,000 feet. I love music, music festivals, writing, reading, sunsets, exploring, hiking, star-gazing, scuba diving, fire spinning, almost any activity outdoors, intellectual conversation, elevating consciousness, but most of all spending these moments with amazing people. Which is why I would love the opportunity to be your couch surfer, and to hopefully host you in the future:) ***My current adventure will be including my significant other Chris Shimanoff. He does not have a couch surfing account so I figured I would give a little run down on him as well :) He is 30 years old, a teacher and an electronic music producer. We met while I was living in Hawaii and he decided to hop in the adventure bus with myself and we have lived and traveled together ever since (about 5 years). He is very much like myself, very intelligent, a musician, and a history buff (as he studied history in college). I have posted pictures of us above so you can see what he looks like as well! Please let me know if you have any other questions about either of us!! ~~Live less out of habit and more out of intent ~~

Warum ich bei Couchsurfing bin

I am passionate about traveling with an open mind and open heart, and love all kinds of new experiences and new people. Cultural exchange is so important and eye-opening, and what makes up those cultures and exchanges are US! I believe that many of the divides within our countries and humanity as a whole come down to our fear of the unknown and misunderstanding of one another. I think that couchsurfing is a unique way to help each other better understand things from a personal perspective and from locals/expats within all different regions. This gives the opportunity to live our lives with love instead of fear, and breaks down cultural and nationalistic barriers to expose that no matter what we are, we are all HUMAN. Couchsurfing is a special community in that it brings like-minded individuals together from all over the globe-people who never would have been able to meet otherwise. I love that and am so happy to be a part of it!

Interessen

• animals
• festivals
• dancing
• cooking
• coffee
• running
• reading
• camping
• scuba diving
• exploring
• #music
• #hiking
• meeting new people
• #travel
• sunsets
• sustainable living
• fire spinning
• the great outdoors
• #newexperiences
• #adventure

Musik, Filme und Bücher

Music: I love almost all kinds of music and am always down for a live show or festival. Hands down my favorite artist is Bassnectar (atleast so far!) He has changed my perspective on music as a whole. I love expanding my idea of music by listening to weird sounds and experimental electronic music.
Books: So many good books and I’m constantly adding more to reading list. Some of my most recent reads are: Mycellium Running by Paul Stamets, How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollen, and the series “The Wheel of Time” by Robert Jordan. I'll always love re-reading the Harry Potter series as well :)

Eine tolle Erfahrung, die ich gemacht habe

I've saved multiple lives as an emergency nurse.

I've sailed 92 miles in a sail race from Oahu to Kauai (and won!), hitchhiked to the northern shore of the island, and then continued to hike 11 miles on the Na'pali coast to Kalalau beach. This is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been on.

I learned to fire spin within an amazing community while traveling and living in Hawaii.

Lehren, lernen, teilen

I would absolutely love to share new experiences, whether it be on an adventure in a new place, or learning how to cook a new food. I love to spin fire poi and am happy to teach others the basics of poi if they are interested! My boyfriend Chris plays guitar and produces electronic music and is always down to give a lesson :) We both are also very much interested in learning new words in your local language (I’m especially focusing on fluency in Spanish right now!) Exchanging stories and books is another favorite of mine and I always appreciate new reading recommendations!

Was ich mit Gastgebern teilen kann

Good intellectual conversation, political insight into the anomaly that is America, music, beers/ wine, a good home-cooked meal, fire spinning entertainment, and many hugs!

Länder, die ich besucht habe

Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Guam, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British

Länder, in denen ich gelebt habe

New Zealand, United States, United States Minor Outlying Islands