Recently moved to San Diego, California 🤙 🏖️ 🌴 😎

American (USA) - Bulgarian (EU) dual citizen and global nomad. I work as a private chef and have acquired knowledge and skills through completing five diplomas, licenses, and degrees including PhD-level at Stanford (25 years-worth of formal education acquired in ~20 years) while getting paid to do so and while working part-time for 12 of those years. Furthermore, I have had the opportunity to travel for work around the USA, Australia, and Germany, as well as complete other merit-based education and training. I love dogs, food, art, new experiences, playing sports, and laughing.

My first few couchsurfing experiences through this app were wonderful and I look forward to continue making more fond memories through it! Can't believe I hadn't heard of it until 2023... I live under a rock 🪨🙃 I'm so excited to get to know more people all over the US and world 🌎

Speaking of rocks, I'm an ex-geologist 🤓 I worked for the energy industry in corporate, academic, and government assignments. That landed me in Houston, TX a couple times where the NRG stadium is found - there's a permanent display there with my name in it as an award which is kinda wild.

That decade long career is behind now though and I've started my new one - for the next decade at least :) The culinary world is a perfect avenue for me to express my creativity. 👩‍🍳🎨

Living at peace in the present wherever I am, while laying down a solid foundation for the future, I am currently a part-time traveling private chef enjoying leaving a positive impact in every situation.

How my friends describe me; I happen to have just asked them for some paperwork lol -
"Genuine, go-getter personality. Nothing will stop Laura from doing something she loves, and when she loves something it is passionately."
"Laura is a hardworking individual who is the most ambitious person I know. She is the most selfless person I know."

Feel free to Google my name if you want more deets, I'm the only person with my name in the world so I'm easily searchable. 🔍

Oh and check out my website! :)
www.chefdafov.com

My Siberian Husky is no longer with me since March 2023 😢, adopted him years ago when he was already of old age with many health problems, but I loved him while I could!

Wasn't sure I'd adopt a dog again so soon, but at the end of April 2023 I happened to meet Lily in front of a Petco on a Saturday morning during a rescue event and we just instantly soul bonded 🩷 ✨ 🐕🐶 She is the sweetest thing I've ever met. Only a couple years old, 9 pounds, and already well traveled ✈️ she's even flying overseas soon! Well behaved in public settings, sometimes shy about other humans, and absolutely adores other dogs - she wants to be friends with all of her kind! *Update November 2023: Lily was killed while I was in surgery last month... More deets in the photo section.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

For 12 years I've been traveling nonstop, yet found myself in some resorts and hotels that are all the same corporate businesses stripped of local culture, and now I want to shift the focus towards immersing myself in the real world wherever I am. See photo section for Google Maps screenshots of my travel, not fully comprehensive but captures a good amount.

兴趣

• dogs
• arts
• cooking
• reading
• hiking
• skiing
• sports
• knowledge

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

Skydiving ✈️ during one of my solo trips to Hawaii 🌴 without having a racing heart during any point of the experience. It was very enjoyable and less scary than I thought it would be when I booked it the day before.

教，学，和分享

The greatest gift anyone can give me is a high quality nonfiction book to read, especially when it is enlightening, interesting, and adds value to my life by teaching me something new in relevant depth.

我可以与沙发主分享些什么

Conversation, kindness, and whatever else I can think of - this is usually person-specific. I'm known as a thoughtful gift giver whenever I'm able to be. 😊

我游览过的国家

Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico

我居住过的国家

Australia, Bulgaria, Germany, United States