NOTE: Please do NOT send me friend requests if we have not yet connected in-person / online, they will be ignored.

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***UPDATED MAY 2024***

The past year has been a massive process of deep-diving into my roots, things I have mostly avoided or kept some distance from for most of my life: my homeland, my family, my ancestral lineage.

Though I was originally born in Indonesia, I've lived mostly abroad since 2005; spent most of my formative years in Singapore before embarking on a nomadic adventure that began in 2015 until now. I used to convince myself that I did this because I felt 'misplaced' in the land and family I was born into. Only in the past year did I begin to recognize that I had been running away from certain aspects of myself that I did not feel ready to fully confront until much more recently.

While I had always been fascinated by and passionate about the human psyche, ceaselessly analyzing myself and others around me to understand better the motivations, programs & fears that we are beholden to in both conscious and subconscious ways, I have been deeply humbled this past year through realizing where my own blind spots were, through seeing the ways in which I rationalize and convince myself to look away from those things I didn't want to look at.

Ever since I began this process of confronting those things that I had insofar avoided until then, I've found myself experiencing profound levels of disorientation as long-hardened habits and ways of being were gradually shed to make way for new ones. Things that used to appeal to me suddenly became uninteresting, things I used to tolerate became intolerable, and even now I'm still catching up with these internal shifts that relentlessly unfold without waiting for me to catch up with these changes. Some days I thought I have it figured out, only to once again be surprised by just how much I do not know.

Yet, in the midst of this disorientation and uncertainty, I find myself experiencing ever-deeper levels of peace and acceptance of what Is, which has been helped greatly by my recent learnings in meditation, shamanism, and mysticism. I've found deep comfort and wisdom in contradictions and paradoxes, even as life continually challenges me to lean into trust in the face of apparent unsafety.

One notable thing that has emerged through this process is a much lower tolerance for mindless, superficial social interactions. While I used to pride myself on being a social butterfly of sorts, one who made friends easily everywhere I went, these days I find myself desiring solitude more often than not, and being much more intentional with regards to how I spend my social energy.

Given the nature of Couchsurfing as a platform, it feels important to state the above as I am unlikely to respond to messages unless I feel strongly inspired to connect. To those who read my profile and resonates with much of what I express here -- I look forward to connecting if the resonance is mutual :)

~

***SUMMARY OF ME

Born in Indonesia, shaped in Singapore, then forged and reforged constantly throughout my adventures in various parts of the world.

A work in progress, a global citizen, a nomad since 2015.

A curious blend of creative artistry and organizational wizardry who loves improvisational dance performance as much as she loves spreadsheets, who enjoys contemplating human nature and its expressions.

At its core, my motivations can be summarized in the following:

Creating beauty.
Communicating a message. Storytelling.
Creating a positive impact on the people around me.

***WHAT I ENJOY

I enjoy stimulating, mind-expanding conversations and find "small talk" painful. As I grow older, I find myself becoming much more selective about the way I expend social energy, and who I choose to spend my time with.

I love spending time alone, yet I am also a people-connector and social butterfly. I take good care of myself and recharge in solitude when I need to, so I can always be fully present when I choose to be in the company of others.

My presence is a gift, and I grant it to those whose presence I find equally nourishing.

I enjoy collaborating with others to create something beautiful and meaningful. I especially enjoy jamming with fellow creatives for the sheer joy of making art.

Despite having dabbled mostly in artistic endeavors professionally, I have a deep passion for languages, linguistics, psychology, anthropology, and spirituality. The art that I create typically revolve around these topics.

Since COVID, I started working a lot in the field of online events, and I am presently very excited in designing hybrid events & experiences that combine both online and in-person event elements, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the realm of event production.

***WHAT I LOVE TO DO

Producing / designing hybrid events & experiences
Improvisational performance art
Cross-disciplinary art-creation
Dancing
Drawing
Singing
Photography
Costume-design
Writing
Reading
Deep conversations

For some examples of the things I do, check out my instagram at the following:

@valenciaselestin_
@dancing_doodle_vale

***WHO I'D LOVE TO MEET

I am especially interested to meet musicians, artists, event producers, experience designers, photographers, videographers, and creators who enjoy cross-disciplinary collaborations, especially those who enjoy improvisation. I enjoy doing improvisational dance performances, especially in collaboration with improvising musician(s).

However, I have also collaborated with fellow dancers, and even with a software engineer, so I welcome collaborations of all sorts. Please message me if you're interested to jam/create/perform together :)

I have also produced, organized, and supported various events, both online and in-person. I love collaborating with fellow event creators and designing experiences that bring people together, especially within the realms of art, spirituality, and relationships.

I get along best with deep, independent thinkers and quirky individualists who never follow blindly, whose opinions are dictated by none other than themselves. Old souls who never lose touch with their inner child. Articulate minds who communicate and express a healthy level of self-awareness, who practice honest self-reflection regularly, who embrace their imperfections unashamedly and wholeheartedly.

A good sense of humor always helps, too :)

If we have the opportunity to meet, I would like to get to know you. The REAL you. I don't have a lot of patience for small talk; I want to dig deep and meet the person you are at your core. I want to meet you from a place of honesty, authenticity, and vulnerability, because only then can a true connection be formed. And I have found that I do not have the patience for anything less.

***WHAT I BELIEVE

I believe that blessings and talents are gifts meant to be shared.

I believe in serendipity and synchronicity. I don't believe in coincidence.

I believe that life is a school for the soul, and a playground. That every encounter, no matter how minute or temporal, is meaningful. Contributes to the amalgam of energies, emotions, and experiences that make up who we are: parts of a whole, individually separate yet inextricably interconnected, dancing around and colliding against one another across all eternity. Helping one another along this universal journey we all share.

With every hello, comes the inevitable goodbye... until the next hello comes along. And the cycle continues.

----------------------------------------------------
Favorite quote (from Cloud Atlas):

"Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others, past and present. And by each crime, and every kindness, we birth our future."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've encountered many wonderful, like-minded souls through CS who have significantly enriched my travel experiences, many of whom have become good friends. Travelling, for me, has become much more about the people than the places themselves, and I always enjoy the opportunity to meet a new potential friend in strange places :)

Interests

improvisation, art, dance, music, theatre, film, communication, psychology, philosophy, metaphysics, spirituality, new age stuff, scuba-diving, anime and manga, musicals, video games, meeting new people, having deep conversations

• meditation
• anime
• video games
• music
• psychology
• spirituality
• dance
• film
• metaphysics
• improvisation
• communication
• deep conversations
• dancer

Music, Movies, and Books

MOVIE / TV

Favorite movie of all time: Cloud Atlas

Other things I've watched and enjoyed: Mr. Nobody, Requiem for a Dream, Inception, Game of Thrones, Westworld, Sense8, Black Mirror, Bleach, True Detective, Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Man from UNCLE, ... and most other things action/fantasy/sci-fi-oriented, especially stuff that make you think ;)

MUSIC

Agnes Obel, Lindsey Stirling, Disney songs, piano instrumentals, Pentatonix, epic orchestral music, reggaeton, dancehall, latin, sad melancholic music (though I consider myself a happy person :P)

BOOKS

"A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle
"Miracles Happen" by Brian Weiss
"Proof of Heaven" by Eben Alexander
"Sex at Dawn" -- a very well-written study on human sexuality

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Did a silent retreat by myself for 10 days in the mountains of Georgia.

Becoming a nomad by accident (kind of) :P

Planning roadtrips with complete strangers (and having an awesome time)

Discovering and forming non-traditional relationships (and learning more each day)

...more to be uncovered B-)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share my skills and knowledge in any of these:
- drawing/illustrating
- painting
- music and vocals
- organizational skills
- photography and Photoshop
- dance and choreography
- English language, Indonesian language

I am most curious to learn more about:
- 3D illustration and animation
- other languages (Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek, etc)
- cooking and baking
- music, theatre, art (especially from fellow practitioners)

Or anything else that is unique!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Art :) I enjoy doing little customized artwork for people that inspired me and people who have helped me in one way or another.

Photography -- I can teach the basics of using a DSLR camera, although I'm by no means a professional photographer who practices it for a living.

Knowledge about Singapore and Indonesia, as well as the other places I have traveled to.

And ultimately, my undistracted, undiluted presence :)

Because presence is necessary for connection, and connection is a fundamental ingredient for happiness.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Indonesia, Mexico, Singapore