Hi there,

My name is Natallia. I am 26 years old, originally from Eastern European country Belarus. I came to Chicago in 2010. I used to be a TV news reporter in my country, but I decided to stick an IT field and I am currently working as a Software Test Engineer in downtown Chicago IT Company. I am majoring in Technical Management with a specialization in Computer Information Systems at DeVry University. I like animals and I'm a volunteer at the PAWS animal shelter.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

• There is no better way to get to know a place than through its people
• Potential for help navigating or getting your bearings in a city easily
• Sometimes they drive or want to drive you to places you wouldn't reach otherwise
• Hosts are usually open to inviting you to parties or other events with their friends, allowing you to meet even more awesome people
• They always know what's worth doing or seeing in a city
• It's the best way to find good food
• You might get home-cooked meals
• Couchsurfing hosts are generally awesome people with cool jobs and a global point of view, and meeting this kind of person is crucial for life in many ways
• Hosts sometimes have cats or other cute animals
• My guests often bring small gifts for our collection
• They also sometimes bring alcohol or food
• They speak lots of languages and have so many different accents, so just hearing them speak is often very delightful for me
• It's a way for me to connect with travelers of all ages and take advice from them, or give them advice
• It makes me happy to know I'm helping someone
• I have a lot of knowledge about a lot of random topics and the prospect of sharing that with other people is exciting
• I feel a need to give back to people what other couchsurfers have given to me along the way
• I like picking up people from the airport or the bus station, even if it is inconvenient for me, because I know how hard it can be when no one is there to pick you up
• I like to talk politics, history, or international relations with people about the country I grew up in or countries I've been to
• Nothing beats exchanging travel stories with someone who knows the place and the context of the story
• I learn so much from my guests and can't even begin to imagine how long it would take/how ineffective it would be to try to learn that on my own
• My guests often bring joy and happiness into my home, especially if they are a couple or a pair of good friends
• When I'm the only one at home, having people at home makes me feel safer and more comfortable sometimes
• My guests are often very interested in me and what I do, which makes me feel important and relevant
• I'm very interested in my guests and what they do, which makes for good conversation and open-minded dialogues
• My guests help me remember where I came from and encourage me to love my roots

Interests

journalism, writing, reading, volunteering, sport, art, music

• animals
• cats
• arts
• writing
• dining
• cooking
• partying
• politics
• news
• reading
• tv
• traveling
• music
• sports
• engineering
• history
• international relations
• journalism
• languages
• software
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

house, electro, club

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

moved from Belarus to Chicago

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can buy food for my host and cook / clean up afterwards
Treat to a movie and entertainment
Fill up your car with gasoline
Bring a useful, practical gift: food is best, but once I brought 20 rolls of toilet paper for my host! They loved it, saying, "Finally a gift I can use!")
I can clean your house, bathroom, car and/or yard
Help you to babysit :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Ukraine, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belarus, Poland, United States