Hi I’m Shelma, I was born in Ecuador and grew up in Italy. This dual cultural identity allowed me to be always open-minded and curious about other cultures and traditions. I have done volunteering in India and Lebanon: helping others let me grow as person. I try to spread my person from occidental standards, that the society forces us to have. I just came back from South America, where I travelled as a backpacker for 6 months. I have done it as a solo traveller looking for my roots, learning from locals and being amazed by the enormous beauty of this world. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••(Spanish) No basta una vida para conocer a nosotros mismos y no bastaran la siguientes palabras para hablarles de mi. Soy una chica que ha vivido toda su vida en Italia y que ahora esta en busca de sus raíces en Sur America (sobretodo Ecuador). En general me ha gustado siempre viajar, no tanto para conocer lugares sino personas, historias y culturas. Es por eso también que he echo voluntariado en países como India o Libano. Me gusta compartir y creo que los pequeños gestos van hacer de este un mundo mejor. ---> my Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/_shelma/

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is not only a travel tool, but a life philosophy. Travelling for me has no value if I only go in places to take pictures to monuments. Travelling means learning and sharing. Being in contact with locals allows me to grow and to improve myself. I like to say that people are like books, and couchsurfing allows you to read a lot! Furthermore, I like thinking that we live in a world where sharing is an important and predominant value compared with consumerism and materialism.

Interests

• animals
• culture
• politics
• volunteer work
• music
• international relations
• journalism
• languages
• social science
• social work
• volunteering
• nature
• cooperation
• making friends
• erasmus

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Skydiving (4200 meters) ••••••••••••••••Travelling across South America by bus (no flights) and with 90% couchsurfing accommodation. An epic trip! I love ‘the first times’ and I avoid the routine. I try to make unique every day of my life, small things count as well.

Teach, Learn, Share

Si no tenemos la fuerza de estrechar nuestras manos con las manos de todos, si no tenemos la ternura de tomar en nuestros brazos los niños del mundo, si no tenemos la voluntad de limpiar la tierra de todos los ejércitos; este pequeño planeta será un cuerpo seco y negro en el espacio negro. - Oswaldo Guayasamin

Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness, give me Truth. - H.D. Thoreau

Esiste una sottile paura della libertà, per cui tutti vogliono essere schiavi. Tutti, naturalmente, parlano della libertà, ma nessuno ha il coraggio di essere davvero libero, perchè quando sei davvero libero, sei solo. E solo se hai il coraggio di essere solo, puoi essere libero. - Osho

What I Can Share with Hosts

To my hosts I offer my sunshine personality, the stories about my adventures around the world and I can also prepare tasty Italian dishes.
I am very sensitive to needs of other people and I am able to adapt myself to every situation.

When I host, I offer a bed, food and many suggestions about Milan and Italy. If I’m free I can offer my time, my friends are also interested to meet my guests.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Palestine, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cyprus, Ecuador, England, Ireland, Italy, Spain