Random facts about me:

- I have a three-year-old son and my family and I live on a small quiet island of Gabriola in BC, Canada.
- My full name is Chantelle Zakariasen, but it's really loooong and no one wants to type that so I just go by Chanti Zak.
- I spent a half a year in India studying yoga and I love me a legit chai tea.
- I give a damn about this planet and its inhabitants (so yeah I can talk about GMO’s and the state of our oceans for hours… )
- I'm a chameleon copywriter and make my living stepping into the shoes of other people.
- I've never lost at Cards Against Humanity.
- Positive yet pragmatic.
- Aquarius sun, Taurus moon (if that means anything to you)
- I'm independent to a fault.
- Driven to create a life that feels free, filled with joy, and abundant.

Some of the ideas I live my life by:

"You start dying slowly if you do not travel,
if you do not read, If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.
You start dying slowly when you kill your self-esteem
When you do not let others help you.
You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths...
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don't know.
You start dying slowly
If you avoid feeling your passions and their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten and your heart beat fast.
You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain, If you do not go after a dream, If you do not allow yourself,
At least once in your lifetime,
To run away from sensible advice..."
-Martha Medeiros

"Nature loves courage. You make the commitment and nature will respond to that commitment by removing impossible obstacles. Dream the impossible dream and the world will not grind you under, it will lift you up. This is the trick. This is what all these teachers and philosophers who really counted, who really touched the alchemical gold, this is what they understood. This is the shamanic dance in the waterfall. This is how magic is done. By hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering it's a feather bed."
--- Terence McKenna

"May my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old
may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it's sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young
and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there's never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile” --e.e. cummings

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've Courchsurfed in India & Vancouver and I've met some wonderful, friendly folks. I've hosted surfers from around the world. It's a pretty extraordinary thing to open up your home to strangers, though I'm not sure there's such a big difference between a stranger and a friend.

Interests

Not to sound conceited, but I'm a damn good cook and I love sharing food with friends and strangers alike. My ultimate dream is to publish a cookbook to rival Jamie Oliver.

I've studied holistic health, nutrition, yoga, and herbalism extensively. My yoga practice keeps me sane. I write copy and course content for entrepreneurs and companies in the wellness space as well as thought leaders and brands that are driven to make a positive difference in the world.

My idea of the perfect day is hanging out at the beach for hours with family and friends, plenty of snacks, and a good book. I live in the forest and take vacations in the city.

• arts
• writing
• poetry
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• yoga
• gardening
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• history
• medicine
• physics
• psychology
• parenting
• relationships
• psychedelics

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Oh gosh, too much to list. I secretly dream about becoming a DJ. I vacillate between folk, indie, downtempo electronic, psychedelic grooves. Check my Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/chantelle-understars

Movies: Captain Fantastic, Lion, Almost Famous, Dirty Dancing

Books: The Four Agreement, Shantaram, anything by Martin Prechtel, Tim Ferris, Nourishing Traditions

Currently reading: the Outlander series

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Given birth to a beautiful child at home while chickens gawked through the window. A bald eagle swooped down to say hello just as my son was born!

Teach, Learn, Share

What I can teach:

- Copywriting, marketing, tips on running an online business
- Weird information about human health
- Cooking
- Yoga

What I'd like to learn and experience:

- How to sing or play an instrument
- Stories from far away places
- Anything that pushes me to grow as a person

What I Can Share with Hosts

Food, words, kindness, laughs, wine, yoga, smiles, and so much more!

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Australia, Canada, Cuba, France, India, Jamaica, Scotland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada