In late 2016 I quit my job so that I could embark on a journey to travel, explore, and learn. I recently spent 6 months backpacking through Southern Africa and am now cycling from Geneva to Budapest via the Danube. I shun complacency and am always eager to explore the unknown! Prior to starting this journey, I had been living and working in New York City for just over 3 years. My last job was for a mobile app focused on augmented reality (think Pokemon Go)! Culturally I'm a bit all over - originally Palestinian, I was born in the US, and raised in Switzerland.
In my spare time I enjoy connecting with people, cooking, hiking, biking, reading, gardening, yoga, snowboarding and learning new skills. I consider myself pretty relaxed, and generally go with the flow, taking things day by day. I find that mentality allows for greater spontaneity and ensures I enjoy each moment along the way.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

One of the highlights of backpacking in Southern Africa was all the people I had the privilege of meeting, both locals and other travelers. I love hearing people's stories and learning about who they are. Couchsurfing seems like the perfect community to continue to meet locals while being exposed to the culture in a way which otherwise likely wouldn't be possible.
Also let's be honest - Europe is really expensive and this is a great way to save

Interests

• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• scuba diving
• snowboarding
• agriculture
• biking
• pizza
• urban farming

Music, Movies, and Books

Ahh so much music! Anything with a good melody that makes me feel energized. Some of the classics I can always kick back to are RHCP, Tame Impala, Pimps of Joytime.

Top movies -- There will be blood, Inglorious Basterds, Saving private ryan, Gladiator

Top books -- The Feast of the Goat, Blindness, GoT series, One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest, 1984

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Camped in the middle of the bush in a national park in Botswana where a huge elephant came within 1m of my tent at night. I don't think my heart has ever beat faster!

Teach, Learn, Share

I don't claim to be an expert at anything but hopefully have a few things of interest that I'd happily teach:

English/French, basics of cooking and some awesome staples (homemade tomato sauce, hummus, etc.), urban gardening (growing your own food!), and probably a few other random things..

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, fun conversation, meals, alcohol...

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lebanon, Lesotho, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States