CURRENT MISSION

Love life!

ABOUT ME

I am 27 and currently working in Korea as an English teacher. I studied in Michigan and Costa Rica, and have taught in Italy and Turkey as well.

In addition to teaching, I am working on illustrations for literary magazines and a variety of writing projects in my spare time. I like being creative and hope to develop my linguistic and artistic skills for the rest of my life. I'm very easygoing and fun-loving!

My partner, Ahmed, is from Egypt. He studied law and has also worked in marketing and hospitality. We met in Turkey and have been traveling together ever since. He is a footballer and dreamer, and plays the lute. We both love hiking, swimming, and playing with pets--especially dogs.

PHILOSOPHY

Hakuna matata.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
So far I have stayed with one host and met up with several other couchsurfers in Italy while I was living with a host family. We are still in contact and I hope to continue making friends through this project!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I started with couch surfing on a vacation to New Orleans. It was a great experience, and I'm looking forward to meeting more kind and interesting people!

Interests

Books, swimming, snorkeling, traveling, stories, comedy, languages, art, writing, poetry, animals, food, jokes, general merriment

• animals
• pets
• dogs
• arts
• writing
• books
• poetry
• illustrations
• dining
• cooking
• desserts
• crafts
• thrifting
• traveling
• knitting
• painting
• drawing
• origami
• surfing
• snorkeling
• swimming
• teaching
• languages
• au-pair

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: lots! Especially Ingrid Michaelson, Mayer Hawthorne, Regina Spektor, Matt Nathanson, Paolo Nutini, Gin Wigmore…
Movies: The Breakfast Club, Charlie Bartlett, In A World, 10 Things I Hate About You, Austenland, Amelie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Princess Bride...
Books: Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, I Capture the Castle, anything by Diana Wynne Jones/Toni Morrison/F. Scott Fitzgerald, Memoirs of a Geisha, Jane Eyre, Watership Down, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Golden Compass...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

While snorkeling in Hawaii a few years ago, a pod of wild spinner dolphins surrounded me and checked me out. Definitely an amazing moment!

Teach, Learn, Share

My skills: language tutoring (I have worked as an English/Italian/Linguistics tutor and English teacher); editing/proofreading/reviewing writing; art (drawing/painting) and crafts (jewelry, knitting, origami); how to bake kickass cookies and a few other things :)
I would like to learn: more languages! Also, harmonica and ukulele, and other artistic things.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can cook things (especially desserts) and draw/paint personalized pictures (see my instagram: https://instagram.com/kelseypaints), share stories, offer English conversation practice...

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Philippines

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, Italy, South Korea, Turkey