CURRENT MISSION

Create communities that encourage creativity, exploration and learning.

ABOUT ME

Hello! I'm Val, or Valerie.

I am very happy to be experiencing life -- so far, I've enjoyed or appreciated every piece of it :) Here is long brief history that will perhaps tell you something or barely anything:

I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area, and incredible place to grow up. Very accepting, a mix of cultures, cities nestled between hills, always easy to take a break from your neighbors, then dive right back in to beautiful human cultures.

I went to university in Boston, where I can tell you more about the people than the land. There I knew almost primarily temporary residents, not natives, drawn to the area for one academic reason or another. In Boston you'll find many hackers, makers and artists, many people driven to produce beautiful things, live life to the fullest, improve the world or, at least, understand it.

At University I began studying physics because it's beautiful, relaxing almost, another way to describe the world -- and because I'm driven toward the potentially impossible goal to understand "what is truth." I took on computer science when I realized it was more fun than physics (physics you mostly learn what others have learned, in comp sci there are plenty of unsolved problems, and new things to build). I also realized, if you care about where humanity is going next, then you have to care about the computation. It will change social constructs of privacy, security, friendships.. and truth, too, I imagine ;)

Right now I'm traveling. I don't know exactly where I'll go or what I'll do next -- I feel young somewhat restlessly driven to see more, understand more, get better at things. I care a lot about enabling people to do things they find beautiful that simultaneously resulted in producing more beauty for the world :) This is why I'm interested in community work+play spaces (check out hackerspaces.org, yo!) and teaching, and co-ops, and the internet as a way to facilitate accepting and explorative global cultures.

PHILOSOPHY

Hmm..

The more you experience, the better you can appreciate art, and appreciating art is one of those rare and holy things that only human animals can do -- so you ought to make good ;)

So, I'm down to try difficult the more difficult path or attempt challenging things. I'm game for adventure.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I haven't yet lived in a location I could offer a couch, I will as soon as I can! It's been a goal of mine.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've barely begun to participate in CS, but I'm pretty stoked about it -- I've known some folks in the community.

Interests

community spaces
hacking (the good+creative kind, in case you don't know about that definition :)
co-ops
hiking, walking, through urban landscapes or wilderness.
uppin' the beauty on this planet (for my definition of beauty, hope it aligns with yours too ;)
encouraging people to be creative
computation
open source!
the internet.

• animals
• chickens
• arts
• beauty
• walking
• traveling
• hiking
• computer science
• history
• physics
• science
• mountains

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The transformation process of individuals finding themselves within encouraging and accepting community.

Teach, Learn, Share

Computers! Programming! Theory of computation! Linux!
Fearlessness? ;D
Physics? I'm rusty but I can definitely pull some out.
How to take care of chickens.
I can give pretty good backrubs.