CURRENT MISSION

Be present.
Try everything at least once (and do it with new people and in new places!)

ABOUT ME

I love sharing my passions for adventure and food, meeting new people and discovering new talents (both in myself and others). I'm easy going, respectful and laugh at almost anything - bring on the puns.

My sense of adventure and curiosity started with berry picking in Ukrainian forests as a child. Once we moved to the US, I grew up in Northern California and have traveled through much of the wilderness along the west coast and a bit out east.

Although graduate school is taking up most of my time right now, I still try to spend my weekends bundled in a down jacket on the side of a mountain. I look forward to exploring city life as well when I can, both in my current San Francisco location and abroad.

Meet me to find out more!

PHILOSOPHY

Take a deep breath, look around and notice something new that will help you be present in the moment. We only get one chance at life.

Stay curious, ask questions and deepen our understanding of this planet and our connections to one another.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have couchsurfed and traveled with several people through CS. Wish to do more!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Amazing.

Interests

Anything active! I just can't sit still. Rock climbing, backpacking, kayaking, canoeing, tennis, volleyball, swimming, weight lifting, salsa dancing (or any other type of dancing) or just wandering the streets of a beautiful new city.

Cooking with friends, sharing tips/recipes and trying new foods (always picking the most bizarre item on a restaurant menu) are a must.

Really, I just enjoy learning anything new. Be it an interesting conversation about a novel research article, to discovering another constellation in the night sky, to new words in a language I don't speak. Share your knowledge, stories and experiences!

• books
• dancing
• salsa dancing
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• outdoor activities
• backpacking
• canoeing
• kayaking
• camping
• hunting
• rock climbing
• tennis
• volleyball
• swimming
• medicine

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: completely depends on my mood. I give everything a chance and get bored easily so it is constantly changing. Love music from other cultures!

Movies: Gladiator is my favorite. So is Amelie. Movies with an interesting cinematography draw me in!

Books: Pushkin, climbing guidebooks, anatomy books.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Too many moments to count! Climbing up and traversing across a sharp ridge with a 360 degree view of Toulumne, night lake swimming in the Sierra Nevadas, going to 2 weddings in Thailand (the second of which was not planned), accidentally discovering I was camping during the Perseid meteor shower (best of the year) and seeing over 100 shooting stars in an hour... Just ask.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am always willing to share my passion for the outdoors - camping, backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, etc. And how to cook a tasty meal while out in the wilderness (it does NOT have to be hotdogs)!

Being so active, I also get injured a lot. Therefore, I am currently in grad school to become a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and am working on my injury prevention. I am a complete nerd when it comes to physiology and the human body and am always ready to share and expand my knowledge on how to take care of one's body to keep up with an active lifestyle!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Russian Federation, Ukraine, United States

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