Hi everyone my name is Melíssa and I come from the beautiful Sonoran Desert. I'm Mexican- American and have grown up here in the Southwest my entire life. I consider myself to be an open minded person who believes in kindness, respect, and adventure! I'm a certified holistic nutritionist and lifestyle guide, and love all things healing arts, yoga, meditation, and cooking!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Travel is a major part of my life, I make it a point to go somewhere new as often as I can. Travel really makes the world feel like a smaller place.

It's been a few years since I last used couchsurfing, but I could never forget the incredible experiences I've had in many places of the world thanks to this network of people. Couchsurfing has shown me such wonderful generosity and friendship. Time to get back to it.

Interests

I'm a gemologist, and artist by trade. Here in Tucson I make giant sculptures, furniture, & art pieces - All incorporating minerals, gemstones, fossils, and steel. I love what I do and I learn something new everyday from it!

Im building my own holistics brand! It's been a dream of mine for a long time to build a soul-centered business that helps build a stronger world. I offer holistic coaching services, and can't wait to see what I create with my brand Vessel Holistics.

I also enjoy to read and write, I can happily readers h something I'm curious about all day! I practice yoga, meditation, and feeling radiant and healthy in my body and mind is very important to me. I love to be outside as much as possible, hiking, biking, long walks. Wandering around. Cooking is perhaps my favorite hobby. I'm generally a food/nutrition nerd. Design, color, textures, patterns, landscapes, symmetry, constantly encompass my mind. I like listening to a good record, and I might fall asleep during a movie, but I do like those too.

• culture
• writing
• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• reading
• traveling
• podcasts
• hiking
• nature
• adventure
• holistic health
• exploring
• mindfulness
• researching
• holistic healing
• herbalism
• reading and writing

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: The Art of Happiness, Shantaram, Invincible Living, The Power of Now, Diaries of Anaïs Nin, Elizabeth Gilbert, Henry Miller, Charles Bowden...

Music: Roots of Chicha, Colombian Cumbia, Chavela Vargas, Sounds of Angola, Tinariwen, Lasa De Sella, A Tribe Called Quest, Bob Dylan...basically music from all over the world, in all genres...

Movies: The Holy Mountain, The Darjeeling Limited, Lost in Translation, Santa Sangre, Only Lovers Left Alive...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was a cook on a fancy yacht for a little bit sailing the Caribbean! And when I wasn't cooking, I was driving! I didn't even know how to drive the damn yacht upon arriving but I did it. Have had many interesting work- trade experiences to say the least...

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to better speak English or Spanish, I can teach you basic skills in the kitchen and how to prepare healthy whole foods, I can share with you how to be a more confident cook, I can show you different meditation techniques, I can share with you about holistic health and holistic living practices, I can teach you about nutrition, I can share with you some yoga, all kinds of stuff!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share beams of positivity and good vibes! And make you a badass smoothie.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States