CURRENT MISSION

survive and thrive!

ABOUT ME

I am a returning full-time student with a rigorous course schedule, and I am not very interested in socializing, but I will happily provide a guest room and orientation to visitors. Contrary to those who do not want to be treated like a hotel, right now I am the opposite. I am very friendly and enjoy sharing meals, but beyond that I need a quiet study environment when I am home, though I am generally only home in the evenings and on weekends. My boyfriend is much more free to socialize, but we will not take any offense if you are just looking for a place to crash, and I may ask you to be quiet while I am at home so that I can study. We are a food-centered household, so If you like to cook or share food we are more likely to host you.

I will only host pairs or groups if everyone has a profile. Please do not send me a request unless everyone has a profile (provide link), or is in a shared profile.

I live with my boyfriend. His profile can be seen at:
https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/artificialdark

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I'm gregarious, compassionate, interested, politically left, social, driven. I believe that significant growth happens especially when we are willing to challenge ourselves and others in positive ways. I am a strong believer in community and try to foster community where I go. I am a masseur, dancer, activist, foodie, and accordionist. I enjoy finding creative and community-based ways of learning and teaching.

PHILOSOPHY

"To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget."
-Arundhati Roy

suits me for now

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I host when I can and humbly offer what I can to those I stay with. When staying for more than a couple nights, I gladly trade massage for housing! And I'm a pretty good cook!.

I support there being a little automatic carbon calculator next to all the countries we've visited, so that our carbon footprint can attenuate our bragging rights.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted some, and been hosted by many.

Interests

climate and environmental justice, economic justice, food, political organizing, natural building, craft, homemade music, reading, studying, playing, piano, accordion, circus arts, dance, herbs, permaculture, gardening, etc.

• insects
• arts
• singing
• beauty
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• gardening
• reading
• juggling
• music
• piano
• agriculture

Music, Movies, and Books

music:
Georgian folk ensemble Basiani
Mahsa Vahdat
Ladytron
Ukranian folk ensemble Drevo
Hamlet Gonashvili
Pegazusok nem Léteznek
Crystal Castles

authors:
Michael Hudson
Rebecca Solnit
Jorge Luis Borges
Gary Paul Nabhan
Ha-Joon Chang
Dean Baker
Naomi Klein

directors:
Peter Greenaway
Stanley Kubrick
Ron Fricke
Werner Herzog

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I walked from Illinois to Arizona and enjoy hopping freight trains. I eat insects and stand on my hands.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can juggle and do backflips, though I'm out of practice. I play piano and accordion and sing in two Slavic choirs, and love sharing music. I'm a decent cook. I know a bit about organic agriculture and gardening and plant identification. I love practicing what languages I know.

Learning- I am interested in many many topics, and I'm sure I can learn something from you.

What I Can Share with Hosts

food, roof, bed (futon mattress with foam pad) and private room, towels/bedding, etc.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, Palestine, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, Turkey, United States

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