***Dear overly excited individuals, please don't send me requests more than two weeks in advance. And if you're looking for paid accommodation because you're here for an internship or English language courses, please go to Air BnB or hostels. (CS is free!) Thanks!***

Well, after being a nomad for several years, I learned that the nomadic lifestyle isn't for me. I'm in search of a home and attempting to make Malta just that.

If I'm to use labels to make things easier for us, I am American, Russian and Jewish (and recent European convert?!). My family is from Ukraine (Kiev), but moved to the US when Ukraine was still a part of the USSR, so that is why I relate to Russian culture and speak Russian. I love dancing (especially Latin dancing), writing and being outside, generally. I spent years working towards becoming a conservation biologist and now I'm kinda like, dude, I'm gonna be an artist and eat hors d'oeuvres and drink wine in big studios and have lots of crazy sex.

Generally speaking, I'm easy going and just want to have fun. (Not true, I can be uptight and loud and forcefully try to have debates with people.)...(Not true.)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

However flawed, CS is an opportunity to be kind and potentially have some wonderful experiences with new friends. I have done more surfing because of my nomad days, but now am really excited to host again.

I'm not into the whole spiel about how this is not a hotel service, required cultural exchanges and secret words. Let's just be nice to each other. That's it. Look, I'll give you everything I've got. If all I can give is a hug, that's it. If I have food, I'll feed you. If I have a blanket, I'll give it to you. If I have a house and spare room, then I'll host you. Hell if I find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I'll share it with yah! It's simple.

Traveling can be difficult and expensive. I think as humans we should do our best to help each other out. I never cease to be amazed at the all the ways strangers have gone out of their way to help others. When I was in need -- which considering my tendency towards not planning, absentmindedness and general forgetfulness, happened on several occasions -- generous CSers really saved my ass. I'll never forget them.

Peace dude. Peace.

Interests

There are quite a few things I'm interested in: learning (AWWWWW) and keeping up-to-date on current events is kind of a big one for me. I think staying physically active is important, but I'm not always good at that, especially when I'm feeling like crap and panicking.

I'm getting more into yoga and meditation now. That's pretty big for me too, like real big, like real good for that mental healing, you know?

I'm really big into cooking. (Seems like I'm "really big into" lots of things, eh?) In the past I was trying more homemade things like jams, liquors, sauces, etc. I try to get as close as I can to authentic [jesus, really, I'm re-reading this years later and like, ugh, gross] , so I will take my time reading about recipes before I get into something. I will not divulge how much investigation I did into the science of chocolate chip cookies.

Ummm...I'm interested in having a social life. It has taken off yet, but I'll get there. Oh and film, I mean the art stuff, the old stuff, and museums. I'm bored of listing stuff now.

• dogs
• culture
• writing
• literature
• poetry
• dancing
• dining
• vegetarian
• walking
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• christian
• muslim
• buddhist
• biology
• religion
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Gah, I'm not going to make a huge list here. I really like Charles Bukowski and Harry Potter. Yeah, that's right, Harry Potter! I really enjoy raggae music, R and B, soft acoustic/folk (Ray Lamontagne), electronica (Thievery Corporation), indie, alternative, and Latin. I love film from early Woody Allen to The Notebook. There is just too much to list really.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Did that Scandinavian thing where you jump into a body of water naked in winter during the daytime (with three other boys....oooohhhh scandalous!!!!) and proceed to the sauna.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: I guess I can teach you the salsa basics or the basics of another ballroom dance (if I still remember). At the very least I can show you some great hip exercises! And if you're really dedicated, I'll teach you some Russian swears, but not before you learn to say in Russian "You're awesome".

Learn: I would like to keep doing that.

Share: I can share my...this is already sounding naughty.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'll share my food in the form of meals. They will be vegetarian, healthy and fucking delicious as hell because I happen to be a great cook. Lloyd will attest to this and his cheeks are always glowing.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jersey, Kenya, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Denmark, Malta, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States