CURRENT MISSION

Fire spin the world and meet other like-minded individuals that are interested in the fire arts.

ABOUT ME

After two years of living in NYC, I decided I needed more adventure in my life. Booked a ticket, flew out a week later. Best decision ever!

I ended up focusing on myself for the first time in years and grew in my passion of fire spinning. It has been an amazing adventure through Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Now I am ready to fly back to the states and make the west coast my new home.

More of an enthusiastic wanderer kind of traveler for new experiences and authentic cultural encounters.

Follow me on instagram @swanoftravel

PHILOSOPHY

"€œYour time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs

This quote had such an impact on me. I truly share this philosophical outlook cause "you are your own determinate of your happiness", no on else so pursue your passions and ignore those who tell you else-wise.

"€œTwenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

"Strangers are friends I haven't met yet" - Will Rogers

5 §6 "Besides, happiness seems to be found in leisure; for we deny ourselves leisure so that we can be at leisure, and fight wars so that we can be at peace." ~Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." -Confucius

"True success is overcoming the fear of being unsuccessful." -Paul Sweeney

"Once made equal to man, woman becomes his superior."
~Socrates

"I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere." -Thomas Jefferson

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I will host when I can, my tiny apartment in NYC has seen its fair share of visitors such as a group of travellers from South America. That made for an interesting night. :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Amsterdam - My introduction to my new city to call home! I lived in a authentic Dutch house and met her amazing flatmates who introduced me to the Amsterdam way of nightlife! :D

Brussels - I had an amazing host who picked me and my other CS friend from Amsterdam. He was so generous enough to even take us to the airport at 5:00am! Venice, you were the BEST! Thank you so much for making our stay in Brussels so comfortable!

Dublin - As a way to integrate into the Irish lifestyle, I got to watch a Rugby match with three amazing flatmates on CS! It was the Ireland vs Wales. Go Ireland! Then it was off to the legendary Temple Bar with them! \(^o^)/

London - Met an amazing guy by the name of Monty who became my personal tour guide! He was the Greatest! Through him, I was able to meet other amazing people that were in the couchsurfing community! Thank you, Monty!

Rome - I stayed at an artist house in a little village outside of Rome. I got to see parts of the Italian countryside and her studio where she created art. It was truly too cute for words!

Paris - After a day traveling all around Paris, I was able to take rest in an apartment with Pablo and his kind roommate. I had great conversations with them. I only wish that I could have gotten the chance to get to know them better. Thanks again!

Interests

Traveling, meeting people, adventuring, tennis, painting, art, photography, languages, exploring, trying something new, gastrology (trying new cuisines), graphic design, innovative technology, reddit, playing nerdy boardgames, creating cool costumes

• arts
• design
• graphic design
• photography
• ethics
• nightlife
• clubbing
• flying
• technology
• traveling
• socializing
• painting
• backpacking
• sailing
• tennis
• rugby
• languages
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Krewella, Tut Tut Child, and anything released by Monstercat Records.

I spend my time online watching Modern Family, Daily Show, and Colbert Report...aside from that, I do not watch TV much. I rather be out doing something more active with my life.

My favorite movie of all time is 500 days of Summer. Not a fan of horror or cheesy chick flicks.

As for books, been getting into works by Neil Gaiman.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Winter break 2009 - I "backpack" across California. I stayed at a hostel, friend's houses, a place I found on Craigslist, a Hotel in Little Tokyo, a condo, and a Casita at a luxurious desert waterfront home in Palm Springs. I ended up staying at nine different places this winter break. I just wanted to make sure I can make it in the world if I were only left to my own bare resources.

Went to Montreal by myself and befriended 10 Montreal graduate students through a guy named Phil. They took me into their group and we hit the clubs. In one night, I became a true Montrealian. I am still in contact with some of them through Facebook. ^^

I spent my Valentine's Day at the Carnevale Di Venezia dressed in Venetian Cupid costume that I made. It was probably one of the best things I could have done for myself at the time.

Backpacked across Europe and the East coast of the US. Totaling to 34 different beds/couches/airports/hostels/sleeping bags in 6 short months.

Burning Man - This was the adventure to end all adventures. I found myself in the desolate desert, will return over and over again.

Rainbow Gathering in Karamea, New Zealand - where I had such an unravelling of the self! So much love, my heart was open to the world.

Viral Happiness - caught the fire spinning bug from this beautifully talented group of circus freaks! <3

Teach, Learn, Share

What would the host want?

Kindness? Social interaction? Authenticity?

As a person who is very involved with the Burning Man lifestyle, I have found that the ten principles work wonderfully while traveling::

Radical Inclusion
Gifting
Decommodification
Radical Self-reliance
Radical Self-expression
Communal Effort
Civic Responsibility
Leaving No Trace
Participation
Immediacy

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, China, England, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, United States