CURRENT MISSION

Elana's mission: Scorpion and Crow

ABOUT ME

Elana: I've been working with kids since I graduated university. I taught at the Texas School for the Blind for 3 years. My students had multiple disabilities. Seriously, my students were some of the most creative, spontaneous, smart, beautiful people. I volunteered a summer at a wildlife park, Fossil Rim, in Texas. Have you ever met an Okapi? It's my favorite animal. I also worked at a toy store, and i was in a performance duo called, Krazayzay. I have taught ESL in 3 different countries over the past 4 years.

Leslie: Involved in fine arts for a bit and have been easing into film in the last few years. Worked the past 6 years at an incredibly festival in Austin, Cinematexas International Film fest, organizing their political sidebar. My mission each year was to bring together social/environmental/politically conscious people, film, events to reveal tangible ways for individuals to make a difference. Now I'm trying to immerse myself in Korean culture to experience as much as possible while in East Asia.

PHILOSOPHY

Spontaneity is the fountain of youth.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Open to helping others experience the city where we live.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My experiences couchsurfing and hosting have reaffirmed my belief in the goodness of humankind. I have met some absolutely amazing people through CS. I can't imagine traveling without it! And, I can't wait for more!!!

Interests

nature, people,music, cooking, yoga, piano.

• animals
• wildlife
• fish
• arts
• culture
• humanities
• performing arts
• concerts
• festivals
• cooking
• yoga
• traveling
• music
• piano
• cycling
• equestrian
• fishing
• hunting
• snorkeling

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Latcho Drom, Ghengis Blues, Near Dark, Montenegro, The Parents, Desperate Living, 8 women, Lady Vengeance, A State of Mind, Time of the Gypsies, The Mirror(tarkovsky), Jan Svankmejer, Woody Allen, Herzog.

Music: Don Cherry, Ethiopiques, Nina Simone, Robert Wyatt, Can, Zap Mama, Lata Mangashkar, Radiohead, John Fahey, Fred Frith, Adanowsky, cumbia, salsa and jazz!

Books: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Invisible Cities, His Dark Materials, Omnivore's Dilemma, Krishnamurti, Pema Chodron, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked active volcano, saw hundreds of shooting stars in a meteor shower in the middle of nowhere, riding horseback across the open grasses of Mongolia, snorkeling in a school of fish and touching phosphorescent waters in Thailand, hiked to the origin of the Ganges river in India, bike riding through villages of Laos, played in a 'rock' concert with real rocks, lived near the sea twice - in South Korea and in northern Spain, travelled through Asia with my best friend, Leslie, random acts of incredible kindness...

Teach, Learn, Share

stuff

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Italy, Japan, Laos, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Korea, Spain, Thailand, United States

•