I was born on a Greek island: Corfu (Kerkyra). I spent the first seventeen years of my life there. Then I spent a year in the USA, Kansas City, Missouri, staying with an American family as an AFS exchange student. It was a fantastic experience for which I am very greatful!

I have studied languages and literature, and completed a Masters degree in English Education, at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

One might think that I'm too old for CS, but I have never let my age get in the way of anything I have ever wanted to do. 😀

I love travelling, and I think CS is one of the best ideas human beings have put into action. It spreads kindness and goodwill which our world desperately needs in order to survive and progress.

Last year I didn't know what CS was. Then my youngest daughter asked me if a friend could sleep on my couch, and I said yes. He spoke to me about his travels and said he was doing couch surfing. I thought he had a great sense of humour, and I just laughed!!! I didn't know then that I was a Couchsurfing Host!!! Then, some time later, my husband and I picked up two hitch-hikers, on our way to my father's village in the mountains, in Greece. They stayed with us three nights, on our large comfortable couches (of course!), at the village. I offered them beds but they said no, they always slept on couches! They explained to me what Couchsurfing is! We had a great time with them and were sorry to see them go.

In the beginning of September last year, I had to go to Torino for a seminar and I started looking for accommodation near the Torino Olympic Stadium where the seminar would take place. It was very booked up at that time because there were going to be 15.000 people attending the seminar, from 47 countries around the world. Then the idea came to my mind to try Couchsurfing, so I did, and I was very lucky to be a guest in a very kind person's home. It was great getting to know my host! We found that we had a lot to share! It was amazing.

Of course, my couch back home is also available for future guests!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love meeting people, and I think Couchsurfing is the greatest idea since the wheel was invented!

Interests

• dancing
• raw food
• meditation
• reading
• classical music
• latin music
• dance music
• swimming
• table tennis
• teaching
• travelling
• learning languages
• vegetarian food
• meeting people
• learning new things
• healthy living
• being in nature
• italian language
• hiking in the mountains
• many different kinds of music

Music, Movies, and Books

I love the old romantic Italian songs! I also like many different types of music, from classical to folk, to latin, to pop, old music, modern music...I love the wind instruments, especially the flute! I also enjoy singing.
As a young scholar I read Dracula (in Greek translation) every night to my grandma! The book that impressed me the most as a teenager was Zorba the Greek, by Nikos Kazantzakis. At that time I also read some Russian writers: Maxim Gorki, Dostoyevsky, and Tolstoy. Another book that I was utterly fascinated with in my early 20's was The Third Eye, by Lobsang Rampa. Books of the same period of my life were: The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, and The Magus, by John Fowles. I loved The Little Prince, and Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Last year I enjoyed reading Shantaram and The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts. I recently read a most interesting book: The World of Yesterday, by Stefan Zweig. Another amazing book I read: Il Nome della Rosa, The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco. I just finished reading the first book of a trilogy: Titus Groan.
Some films I have enjoyed: Star Wars and the Star Trek TV series, Ghandi, Avatar, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Secret Garden, and Pay it Forward. I also enjoy science documentaries, and space exploration.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I was seventeen I sang a Greek song in front of 2000 American students, at the high school where I attended for one year, in Kansas City, Missouri.

THE MOST AMAZING THING I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE IS THE KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY SHOWN TO ME BY STRANGERS WHENEVER I NEEDED HELP!!!

Teach, Learn, Share

I like to practice speaking the languages I have learned: Italian, French, and a bit of Spanish.
I can teach Greek and English.
I can share my knowledge of healthy eating and raw food cuisine.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Friendship, an understanding ear, smiles, hopefully laughter, teach them Greek, offer my couch back home, if they want advice on healthy eating, vegetarian diet, raw vegan diet, share life stories, have deep philosophical conversations, etc.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, France, India, Italy, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mozambique, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Greece, South Africa, United States