A student at Haverford College in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I study French and Francophone Studies; Film and Media Studies; Environmental Studies; and Peace, Justice, and Human Rights

kmedansky.blogspot.com

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing has always served to be a wonderful way to embrace a new culture, and meet incredible people in places I wouldn't have ever imagined. To this day, I still have so many amazing connections across the world thanks to Couchsurfing.

Interests

Often, I'll lead groups to concerts so that we can register concert attendees to vote. It's a great way to talk to and become better acquainted with a lot of different people from a variety of walks of life, and get people excited about voting, even for smaller, more local elections.

Also, each March, I shave my head to stand in solidarity with kids suffering from cancer, all through the St. Baldrick's Foundation. It's a really stellar group that raises millions of dollars every year to fund childhood cancer research, which is so often lacking.

Otherwise, when not in class, I teach introductory French, watch a lot of sports, listen to and play jazz in a big band, and spend time lounging in parks and hiking in forests.

• literature
• theater
• partying
• drinking
• house parties
• politics
• movies
• traveling
• volunteer work
• blogging
• music
• live music
• jazz
• guitar
• hiking
• baseball
• basketball
• soccer
• track and field
• volleyball
• field hockey
• softball
• history
• languages
• public policy
• volunteering
• parks
• ukulele
• football
• film
• trombone
• charity
• marching band
• hiking in the mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
Hey Marseilles, Ben Folds, Sufjan Stevens, Belle & Sebastian, Dispatch, The Avett Brothers, The Beatles, Said the Whale, Death Cab for Cutie, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, YELLE

Movies:
A few favorites: Moonrise Kingdom, Whiplash, The Railway Man, Ida, Lola Rennt, Manchester By The Sea, 20th Century Women

Books:
The Dharma Bums (Kerouac), The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald), The Things They Carried (O'Brien), and Things Fall Apart (Achebe), Le Médecin Malgré Lui (Molière), Bonjour Tristesse (Sagan)

What I Can Share with Hosts

Gifts, music, and several stories. Also, if we're having dinner or drinks, etc., I'd be happy to help out in footing the bill.

I genuinely want to use this as a give-and-take cultural and social exchange, rather than just a service for free places to stay, so I'd be happy with paying for my part.

Obviously, we can plan more later on.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Grenada, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Monaco, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French part), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, United States, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Israel, United States