"Take the joy and bear the sorrow,
looking past your hopes and fears:
learn to recognize the measured
dance that orders all our years"
Archilocus, fr. 67

I'm Sara, citizen of the world and language-lover, currently on my way for becoming a more conscious human being.

Since I was a child I've enjoyed different cultures and traditions, as my dad is Islamic and my mum is Christian. I've always been fascinated by those little details which make our lives deeply different and our cultures so unique.

I studied music for quite a long time and I used to play the clarinet. Now that I quit, I love running random performances of medieval/renaissance music around the world. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJk_D4Qp9hc , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejqAp30G8k0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1d4l_HIeWw).

I like to consider myself a "linguist" for the simple fact that I find myself very often observing how people use language. Observing how a person used this or that word, which has this or that root, in this or that structure, which is connected with other words in another languages, and so connected to the person's state of mind - all this sometimes I just happen to notice, and I just get thrilled about that too. However, this happens rarely and most of the time I just enjoy what's going around thinking about nothing - so no fear of being analyzed by a psycho-linguist.

On top of this, I'm an easy-going, flexible, laid-back person quite always ready and happy to go for anything nice.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because people are the most beautiful thing to encounter while you're on the journey.
Because I've learnt that opening the doors to wanderers makes them willing to open their doors to other wanderers.
Because it's nice to let people into your life and to get into people's life even just for some days.
Because I value a meaningful talk, a smile or just a "welcome" more relevant than sightseeing and I think everybody can share more about one's culture than a guidebook could ever do.

Interests

I'm currently trying to get some hands-on experience on permaculture, autoproduction and sustainable ways of living, since recently I've been living in a countryside house and want to make the best use of the place. Little by little I'm getting some knowledge about wild plants, sustainable breeding and planting.

I'm interested in everything concerns getting better human beings, integrating body and mind and trying to make the less harm to the world as possible.

• animals
• arts
• humanities
• music
• languages
• religion
• hitchhiking
• sustainability
• permaculture
• contact improvisation
• vipassana
• neurosciences

Music, Movies, and Books

(Two of) my favourite books are "The Master and Margarita", "Les fleurs bleu" and "L'isola di Arturo", by E. Morante. One Italian poet I resonate with a lot is Giorgio Caproni.

Among the movie makers that I appreciate the most, Kim-Ki Duk, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Stanley Kubrik, Michael Haneke.
Some recent movies I liked are "Happy as Lazzaro", "A pidgeon sat on a branch reflecting on existence", "The neon demon".

I'm in a long-time relationship with folk music and recently I've got an in-depht involvement with Southern Italian folk music (tarantella, pizzica, if you know what I talk about), both from an anthropological and a historical perspective. I have a thing for Georgian music, about which one day I'd like to do and know more.
I'm fond of ancient music, especially European Renaissance music. Used to explore techno, breakcore and psy ambients, which I like too, depending on the artist.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbed the Olympus.
Hitchhiking with two tents and four friends across Georgia, Armenia, Abkhazia.
Sprained my ankle in a volcanic lake on São Miguel's island.
Slept in a university restroom in Denmark.
Played and danced pizzica in Saint-Marie-de-la-mère with gipsies.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd be glad to share my knowledge and teach something about my culture and my language.
I like to cook and I can help you deepend your knowledge about Italian cuisine BEYOND pizza 'n' pasta.
I'm recently working on somatics (Contact Improvisation!) and meditation, so if you want to know what this is about (and share with me your opinions), be my guests.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Italian cuisine (!), an unprejudiced listening, warmth, help in daily housework, good advice, sharing silence.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Armenia, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Uzbekistan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States