I'm a creative writer by passion, analyst by profession. I like hearing stories.

Instagram: @gogoshanikinsgo

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm looking to travel the world and meet a lot of people along the way. Huh. Sounds typical.

I love adventures, yes, but my ideal trips have always involved some degree of human connection. When I plan on staying in a place for more than a week, the first thing I do is look for a "home base": a coffee shop, bar, restaurant with wifi. I visit that same coffee shop every time I need to work. I love the feeling of having "the usual" in a place so unfamiliar, in a city where no one's supposed to know me. It's intoxicating -- the idea of weaving through the fabric of a city's day-to-day life even if it's just for a week or two.

After traveling for a year and a half, I'm currently in Manila, working and saving up for the next big adventure.

Interests

- Philosophy
- Arts
- Travel
- Food and Cooking
- Literature
- Politics
- History

I love discussing anything and everything with anyone.

• arts
• writing
• literature
• poetry
• singing
• dining
• cooking
• partying
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• drums
• communications
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: The Jungle Giants | Motion City Soundtrack | Lana del Rey | Arctic Monkeys | Laura Marling | Nicole Dollaganger | CHVRCHES | Russian Red | Ra Ra Riot | Grouplove | The Vaccines | The Shins

Movies: Her | Pan's Labyrinth | El Orfanato | We Are What We Are | Hotel Rwanda | The Man From Earth | Moon | Death Proof | Children of Men

Books: The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer | Video Night in Kathmandu and Other Reports from the Not-So-Far East by Pico Iyer | Falling Off the Map: Some Lonely Places of the World by Pico Iyer | The Global Soul: Jet Lag, Shopping Malls, and the Search for Home by Pico Iyer | My Invented Country by Isabel Allende | Adventures in a Forgotten Country by Kerima Polotan Tuvera | Breakfast of Champions by Vonnegut | God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Vonnegut | The Road by Cormac McCarthy | The Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman | Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace

Teach, Learn, Share

* Creative Writing - I write stories, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as poetry. I can check out that story or poem you've been hiding under your bed, and provide workshop-style comments.

* Copywriting - I did a brief (7 months) stint in the marketing department of a US-based company, mainly writing content for the website and copies for their products.

* Social Media Marketing

* Music - I make and curate playlists: it's one of my creative projects at the moment. Going through something? Want a soundtrack for your upcoming party or even wedding? I can help you with that! I also sing, and play the guitar (basic). Anyone wants to form a band? Or teach me how to play the drums?

*Cooking - My mom is a great cook (as most moms are, I'm sure) and I learned from her. I cook mostly Filipino dishes (Pinakbet, Adobo, Binagoongan, Sinigang, Kare-kare, Bicol Express). I've always been the designated cook at my friends' get together parties.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Lots of stories. I can show you around and take you to the best restaurants in the area. If I'm free, I can arrange for us to go to my favorite beaches.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Philippines