CURRENT MISSION

I strive to live fearlessly, to spread knowledge and kindness, and to meet people and forge connections wherever I go!

ABOUT ME

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." -Aristotle

Stubborn, strong-willed and highly motivated.
Cool temperament. Deep feelings. Firm standpoint.
Dreamer. Understanding. Imaginative. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Restless. Hardworking. High spirited.

PHILOSOPHY

Keep moving forward!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I relocated to the NYC area last month, so I am unable to host couchsurfers at the moment. Once I get a bit more settled here, I would be happy to accommodate guests from all over the world. For now, I enjoy meeting new people, so I could meet for drinks and explore the city together.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I tried couchsurfing once a few years ago. I needed a place to stay while in Paris for myself and a friend. We had a great experience staying with Sofien Murat, who showed us around the city and was an exceptionally accommodating host!

Interests

I enjoy deep conversations, biking, philosophy, tea, the outdoors, campfires, food, canoeing, sustainability, permaculture, gardening, urban planning, walking, service-learning, fitness and health, camping, photography, cooking, surrealism, road trips, yoga, farmers markets, as well as meeting diverse people from all walks of life.

• arts
• literature
• photography
• dining
• cooking
• fitness
• yoga
• walking
• drinking
• gardening
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• canoeing
• camping
• road trips

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Blonde Redhead, Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, Crystal Castles, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arctic Monkeys, Cake, Uh Huh Her, The Knife, Jake White, The xx, Matt and Kim, The Black Keys, Electric Guest, Moderat, Lhasa de Sela, Agnes Obel, Stromae, and many others.

Movies: Before Sunrise Trilogy, Waking Life (2001), When Harry met Sally (1989), Midnight in Paris (2011), Good Will Hunting (1998), Chocolat (2001), The Intouchables (2012), and foreign films.

Books: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, Bossypants by Tina Fey, No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre, The Plague by Albert Camus, and Little Bee by Chris Cleave.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've been quite fortunate in my life to some pretty neat experiences...

Some highlights:

* A midnight hike to the highest point in Central America, Mount Tajumulco, to watch the sun rise

* Star gazing in the Negev Desert in Israel and spending the night in a Bedouin community

* Spending the night in a car that was parked in front of the "most impressive" lighthouse on the East Coast located in Georgia

...I live my life in such a way that every day is an adventure :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm an international development professional interested in gender, women and children's rights, global health, informal economies, and migration issues.

I would like to learn French and Arabic over the next few years and I'm always looking for more conversation partners to keep up my skills in Spanish.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I enjoy cooking for and with others (currently I have been exploring Thai cuisine; mixing up different kinds of stir fry. I'm really into anything with lemongrass and coconut milk). The joy of cooking, for me, is the ability to share this experience with others - it's the same with music.

The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction. A person cooking is a person giving: Even the simplest food is a gift.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, Canada, France, Guatemala, Israel, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belarus, United Kingdom, United States