CURRENT MISSION

To learn as much about lifestyles in different countries as possible. To keep an open mind. To travel off the beaten path.

ABOUT ME

I'm a student who was bit severely with the travel bug when I went to Morocco. There is nothing quite like scaling the sand dunes barefoot in the Sahara desert (even if you do start a little avalanche of sand).

Now, I want to discover as many countries as possible, and more different the country is from America, the more I tend to appreciate it, because I learn more in the process.

I'm laid back, quite progressive in my views (Berkeley students are famous for this), and pretty well informed about the world around me. I love, love, love animals, but especially dogs. I walk dogs as a volunteer at my local animal shelter. I'm an economics major, but I really don't know what I want to do when I graduate from college. All I know is, I better like it because I can't imagine spending more than half of my life merely "tolerating" my profession.

PHILOSOPHY

Nothing is worth killing over. And that includes religion.

Whatever you decide to do with your life, make sure it makes you happy. Because otherwise, what's the point?

Mark Twain: "Time enjoyed wasting is not time wasted." I live by that one.

Pourquoi je suis sur Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm hoping to find many friends on CS, but even just being able to talk to someone for an hour over a cup of coffee about travel experiences and our home towns would be wonderful. I really just want to gain as much exposure to the outside world as I possibly can, and hopefully show some people around town if they are interested.

Not to sound uptight, but here are some things I am not interested in: I'm definitely not looking for a date on CS. So none of that physical intimacy stuff, please. Also, I don't do drugs and I would appreciate if people didn't do them around me as well. I don't smoke either, but I'm more tolerant of that because my dad smokes and truthfully I like the smell. And, I know this sounds silly to mention, but I don't do anything illegal either...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

As of yet, I haven't had any CS experiences from this website. However, through a client of my dad's, I began corresponding with a law student in Portugal. She invited us to stay in her beach house in Coimbra and it was possibly the best part of our entire trip. We met her family and her cat. Everyone was so nice to us, and we were amazed by their kindness. I can only hope to repay her one day when she comes to visit the United States.

Centres d'intérêt

I used to horseback ride every week, and still miss it so much it hurts. I love reading, and lately have become more interested in non-fiction books. I love eating good vegetarian food, especially Indian or Asian food (or anything spicy, fot that matter). Interested in discovering my Polish and Persian roots. Also quite interested in Muslim culture, because I have heard so many stereotypes and would like to get an unbaised perspective.

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• culture
• books
• dining
• coffee
• vegetarian
• reading
• traveling
• equestrian
• economics
• law
• religion
• tourism
• volunteering
• beaches

Morceaux de musique, films et livres

Favorite books: Life of Pi, Roots, The Birth of Venus,Jacob have I loved, Pride and Prejudice, The Giver, A Confederacy of Dunces, The Glass Castle, A Walk in the Woods

Least favorite book (so far): The Scarlett Letter

Favorite Movies: Pulp Fiction, American Beauty, Something's Gotta Give, The Dinner Game (French version, not American remake), She's the Man (I don't know why I admit this one).

Favorite artists: Muse, Linkin Park, Cage the Elephant, The Offspring, The Foo Fighters

Une aventure extraordinaire que j'ai vécue

The one most amazing thing I have seen is the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Imagine being in an air conditioned car, driving over sand dunes, when all of a sudden, you get stuck. Then imagine yourself getting out of the car into the 40 celcius weather, and joining your Mom and one tour guide as you try to push the car over on of those sand dunes. Then, imagine getting extremely sick and throwing up in the middle of nowhere with no hospital in sight.

Finally, imagine riding a camel into the desert landscape. Imagine scaling a huge sand dune with your barefeet (the sand isn't as hot as you would think) and sleeping under the stars in the middle of the desert. All around you are miles and miles of sand. It makes everything you had to endure to get to that point worth it. In fact, it makes all of your complications and troubles just part of the adventure.

Enseignez, apprenez, partagez

If you are going to visit Berkeley, where I currently live, check out Telegraph Ave. for a really good and unique crepes place which serves nutella and banana crepes or mozarella and tomato crepes or much much more.

The university is beautiful, and the students are really friendly. If you have a question, ask any of us that don't look like we are rushing to class. We are usually glad to help, and might even give you a few suggestions about what else you want to check out in the city.

If you are 21, Kip's is supposedly the best bar to visit. Otherwise, Blake's lets 18+ people in some days.

Don't be intimidated by the homeless people. Yes, many are on drugs, but they are harmless to students and visitors. I've never witnessed them harrassing anyone but each other.

Pays que j'ai visités

Belarus, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United States, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Pays dans lesquels j'ai vécu

United States