Hello! My name is Stephanie Gardner. I'm was born and raised in California but I am half Brazilian and have spent quite a bit of time in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I would describe myself as being a very friendly and welcoming person. I love to meet people from all over the world and learn about different cultures. I have been living in cooperative communities for the past three years with anywhere from 4 to 120 housemates. This experience has taught me how to always be respectful when living with others.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

What I love most about the opportunity to couch surf is that it gives me the chance to have a truly authentic experience while traveling. I have done quite a bit of traveling in my life and there is nothing I dislike more than just being another one of the hundreds of tourists in a city, seeing the same attractions, and just following what travel sites tell you to see. Couchsurfing puts you in contact with a host who knows the area, knows what locals like to do and takes you out of the hostel scene. Getting to stay with an individual or a family who is a local is a great way to find authenticity while abroad.

Interests

I am interested in all forms of art from performance like theater, dance, and singing to visual arts like painting, drawing, photography, jewelry making, and fashion. I am a designer who studied architecture and landscape design. I am passionate about environmental sustainability and social justice. Mostly I am interested in all things that involve creating a more equal and just world.

• arts
• singing
• theater
• performing arts
• architecture
• design
• fashion
• photography
• dancing
• traveling
• socializing
• painting
• drawing
• visual arts

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Everything! I'm open to the old the new and anything I've never heard before.

Movies: I like watching documentaries and dramas, all things quirky (Wes Anderson), provocative, or foreign.

Books: Anatomy of the Spirt, The Mastery of Love

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A couple years ago I got to take 6 friends from California on a month long trip from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, United States