Hello fellow CouchSurfers!

Make sure to read 'My Home' section. You have been warned

I love languages and will mix American/Ukrainian Sign Language, Ukrainian, and Russian phrases into my day-to-day life. Or I forgo English entirely! Comes with the territory of having too many languages in the brain).

I want to accomplish seeing the world. I'm big on Anthropology and Archaeology, so I believe my greatest accomplishment in travelling has been when I've gone to visit the ruins of Pompeii. Don't forget about Mt. Vesuvius.

I used to be an Interpreter for the Deaf and worked with DeafBlind individuals. My work is intriguing and I would love to educated you should you wish to learn. Maine has a small Deaf community, so switched to Bartending for a bit. Lemme know your favorite drink...

I believe the only way to unlock the barrier between mankind is to learn the languages separating all of us. You can't understand a culture and it's people without understating the language. Vice versa.

If you want to stay with me, please tell me a quote you live by. I'm collecting them...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I believe in making friendships all over the US of A and the Globe, and CS has become a huge part of that. Also WORKAWAY. Check it out! I plan to make a friend in every corner of the world. Hopefully you can be my new friend :)

The saying "You host me, I host you" is something I live by. So when I'm done with travels, you will always have a place to stay at my place when you come visit me :) That, and if you're ever travelling, most times I will have friends, or previous host(s) in your destinations, so don't hesitate to ask me if you need someone to stay with!

I prefer buying a standby ticket somewhere and hitchhiking to where I need to go, while meeting up with other Couch Surfers and enjoying my time that way! If you are requesting to stay, please insert "Wash, tell me I'm pretty" in your message section. So I know y'all are legit. ;D (Bonus points if you can tell me where this is from!)

I have also made some incredible friends on here:

Miranda Udelhoven- Kenai/Soldotna AK : She eventually became my roommate in Portland OR. 10 years later, we bought land together. I owe this all to CS.

Cory Humak: My host in Shoreline, WA. Two words: Bourbon King! (And a great poker player...)

Rose: Halloween will never be as fun without you and going to a ceilidh drinking southern comforts will always be a memory I cherish.

Eamon: Rebirthing ceremony, Scottish love, and more nature than believed to be possible.

I'm also on this website to learn new languages (or to continue practicing the ones I know) and cultures :) So Please,お願いします, Пожалуйста, будь ласка, bitte! Let us practice languages together :)

Interests

Languages. I'm a polyglot. I can speak Russian, Ukrainian, English, American Sign Language, and Ukrainian Sign Language all to varying degrees of fluency. Can't claim any fluency to Italian or Lithuanian. Care to help a fellow soul out?

I am more than happy to teach you phrases in the languages I am familiar with (And I would love it if you could do the same with me!)

Travelling. I make it my life's mission to see the entire ( or at least, MOST ) of the world. If I've got a bucket list, that's it. I owe this all to Couchsurfing.

Your life. Tell me all about your favorite place you've visited and why.

• culture
• writing
• cooking
• baking
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• skydiving
• anthropology
• languages
• sign language
• hitchhiking
• archaeology

Music, Movies, and Books

Sabaton- Great music AND you get a history lesson out of it.
Nightwish- Because who doesn't like the sound of her voice?
Время и Стекло
Ellise
あおぞらのなみだ
Oonagh

Books:
The Giver Series, which Gathering Blue as my favorite!
Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras
A Court Of Mist And Fury

Movies:
Serenity
How to Train your Dragon (1-3)

TV Shows:
Prison Break- Ah Sucre, how you crack me up.
24- By far, my favorite show. Dunno why, but I could watch re-runs forever.
Firefly- WE WILL GET THAT SHOW BACK ON THE AIR
Derry Girls- Ah, Catholic school.

Sayings:
I would rather die on my feet, than live on my knees

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Live United Or Die Divided

I have to go and seek revenge from him Oh Dear Mother. I have to educate the children of the (my) enemy.
مجھے دشمن كے بچوں کو پڑھانا ہے

If you want to go fast, go alone
If you want to go far, go together

Sing the songs of the land you’re in

Sassy Little Nipples! If you can tell me where this is from, you an stay with me whenever you'd like and we can watch reruns.

"Education gives you the power to question things." - He Named Me Malala

I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things. - Mother Teresa

"Disability is an opportunity for innovation."- Haben Girma

“I don’t have a disability; society imposes a disability upon me.”- Eva Westerhoff

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Played a drinking game called Cheers Governor with a CS Host in Washington, got super drunk and ended up playing a game of strips poker. We all ended up naked.
One of the best nights of my life

Jumping off of a 20 meter cliff into a Cove in the town of Polignano al Mare, Italy. So. Much. Fun!

I hate bathing suits. In Europe, they are optional.
Just sayin'.

Skydiving in Southern California, my goodness do you get a breath of fresh air!

Skinny dipping under a tiny waterfall on a trail near Mt. Baldy.
Cold Cold Cold!!!

I shaved my hair off for cancer, in memory of a dear friend of mine from school who died when we were in High School.

Went to St. Andrews in Scotland and got soaked by a massive wave on the pathway out to sea! No regrets, even if my phone was destroyed.

Experienced a rebirthing ceremony with my host in Drumnadrochit, Scotland. A one in the world place to let go of what was holding me back.

Moved to the middle of nowhere Ukraine to work at a School for the Deaf. Ended up being evacuated from the country because of the novel coronavirus, but the months I spent there with my students and counterparts will always be cherished.

Studied for a Masters Degree during the Global Pandemic. Evacuated during Hurricane Ida. And still managed to graduate before I was 25..

Bought 5 acres of land in Maine, built a Yurt, and have been living 100% off the grid since. Welcome to my Home.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you a new language if you'd like! I am fluent in American Sing Language, some Ukrainian Sign Language, and somewhat in spoken Russian :) My Ukrainian is good to where I'd say I am an Intermediate speaker (don't tell Бабуся my Russian is better...). English has become difficult, but I'm getting better. Even though this is my native language...

Different sign langauges were used everyday where I lived and worked because of my job. You'll notice while I speak that I mix different languages into my sentences. English gets boring after a while. Plus after being immersed in multiple languages, it gets addicting to learn more and more about the languages and cultures.

"When God made the world, he took the leftover rocks, threw them over his shoulder, and that's how Greece was made"- Barby 2017 (Geography NOW)

What I Can Share with Hosts

Ukrainian Sign Language
American Sign Language
Drinking games
Knowledge of languages
Tequila and tea, in that order.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Lithuania, Russian Federation, Scotland, Ukraine, United States