I'm an artist, activist, writer, teacher. I tend to take on huge projects with a view to changing the world for the better. In my teaching, I work to help people feel good about themselves and their artistic abilities and to live into the creativity we all have inside. I usually paint the human figure but also enjoy drawing whatever is in front of me. My art is at www.susansinger.com.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I majored in German in college and loved living overseas and traveling before I had kids. Since my kids were born, I've traveled some, but mostly have sent them off hither and yon. My daughter and son both have couchsurfed all over the world including in Europe and China and have told me how great it is, so I thought I'd try it too. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about the REAL culture of the places I visit rather than the pre-packaged tourist stuff.

When I travel, I tend to need some solitude and quiet to re-charge, but otherwise love to visit with folks and learn whatever there is to know. I love going to museums and galleries to learn about the local art scene. I'd be delighted to stay with an artist if that's an option!

Interests

Art - creating it, seeing it, sharing it
Languages - learning them, practicing them
Teaching - art, creativity, anything else I've learned well enough to teach. Teaching makes me very, very happy.
Other cultures - how do others live? what makes people click? what matters to others? how are we similar? how are we different?

• arts
• culture
• writing
• performing arts
• dancing
• cooking
• traveling
• painting
• drawing
• blues
• teaching
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - I'm kind of stuck in the 70's with Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, and the like, or with classical like Bach and Haydn, or with the Blues - my favorite blues artist is Gaye Adegbalola, a personal friend.

Movies - all time favorite is Gone With the Wind and Sound of Music - I love what I grew up with! I enjoy personal dramas with lots of poignancy and not much violence. I'm not crazy about Science Fiction, Thrillers, or Action Films.

Books - I love reading historical fiction as a way to learn about other people, places, and times. It is an easy way to learn about history. I like the following authors: Sue Monk Kidd, Elizabeth Berg, Margaret Mitchell, etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I created a series of 50+ paintings of female nudes of all sizes, shapes, ages, and races and combined it with a 7-week performance series about issues of importance to women: Birth, Domestic Violence, Eating Disorders, Body Modification, Dance, The Written Word, and The Blues. I entitled it Beyond Barbie, harking back to many girl's belief that they should look like Barbie when they grow up - we went "Beyond Barbie" in our series!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd be happy to share anything I know - from how to cook a good meal, to how to draw, to what it's like to live in the US, to English, etc.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My artistic sensibility and sensitivity. A strong curiosity about his/her country/city/culture. A terrific meal if he/she would like me to cook! Information about the United States and/or other places I've been.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Scotland, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Costa Rica, England, Germany, United States