I'm Manoela, a 27-year-old from Rio, Brazil, with an insatiable passion for sports, literature, and the art of storytelling. Writing is my therapy, and making people laugh is where I find joy. When I travel, I dive deep into local cultures; it's the driving force behind my adventures.

My journey began with an unconventional wanderlust—not toward the well-trodden paths of the US or Europe but toward far-flung destinations that differed from my Western reality. It was during my first solo trip, embarked upon while studying abroad, that I fell in love with the transformative power of traveling alone, especially as a woman. It's been a journey that's honed numerous skills and profoundly shaped who I am.

Following my eye-opening holiday in Asia back in December 2019, I became fixated on the idea of taking a Sabbatical Year

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

For me, travel is akin to shedding the societal, familial, and media-imposed lenses and truly seeing the world through my own eyes. It's about taking ownership of my narrative and connecting authentically with incredible people and, most importantly, my true self. Now, having completed two impactful volunteer roles and traveled extensively, I'm more than ready to dive All In!

Interests

• wine
• coffee
• sports
• nature
• deep conversations

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, France