CURRENT MISSION

To expand my horizons and to study, sing and dance as much as possible :).

ABOUT ME

Hi!

So I'm Yael, I'm a student at the University of Amsterdam (studying French and law), but probably spend a bit more time singing and dancing than studying :)..
I'm a huge fan of jazz and bossa nova (and of music in general), and am currently obsessed by learning how to dance Brazilian dances (specifically (lamba)zouk). Other than my huge passion for almost anything music-related, I love to drink...tea! And loads of it.
Nice to know is that I'm really a language (and culture) lover, I can speak French by now, and can't wait to add at least Portuguese or Spanish (or both!) to my list.

One more 'fun' fact, I'm not entirely Dutch- I'm half Surinamese, though I do not speak the language. Have travelled there and have family living there so I can answer quite the bit of questions about the country and the people :).

PHILOSOPHY

Live to learn and to love, and to make most of life and of who you are. Or at least that's what I try and hope to achieve (on a daily basis). One of the reasons for living for me personally is definitely music.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have only just begun to participate, my first couch surfing experience will hopefully be soon enough since I'm going to discover the beauties of France by interrailing (July 2013)! I live with my parents so hosting people isn't easy for me to do - I'd love to meet up for a coffee or show you around town in Amsterdam when I get back though. And drag you along to one of the open-air brazilian dance events, hehe :D..

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None so far, have only met some surfers that were staying elsewhere, which was fun!

Interests

So many... But i'll give it a go: singing (jazz, bossa nova), music in general, concerts, jamming, dancing (lambazouk, salsa, samba), languages, cultures and countries, tea, film (Nouvelle Vague), art in general (photography), poetry, humour (!) I really have a feel and weak spot for bad word puns, dreaming, writing...

• arts
• culture
• writing
• poetry
• singing
• photography
• concerts
• dancing
• coffee
• drinking
• music
• jazz
• surfing
• languages
• law
• volunteering
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: jazz, bossa nova, soul, funk, afrobeat. Also like some good hiphop every once in a while :). Ah, and French music! Artists; Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Caetano Veloso, Nara Leao, Gal Costa, Elis Regina, Jobim, Nat King Cole, Chet Baker, Oscar Peterson, Esperanza Spalding, Herbie Hancock, Nina Simone, Peggy Lee, Serge Gainsbourg, Edith Piaf, Barbara, Boris Vian, Etta James, Mayra Andrade and many, many more.
Films; I'm a fan of old films in general.
Books; I really read a bit of everything, don't have one favorite author. I like books about philosophy, love (types of) poetry, am currently reading a lot of French poetry (Baudelaire), and will soon start in l'écume des jours :) (novel by Boris Vian).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Have seen a great deal of the inlands of Surinam, swam in coca-cola coloured waters and a few rivers there (note: can't do that in all waters though, you may lose toes cause of Piranhas), have sailed on the Okavanga Delta in Botswana, spent a beautiful time volunteering in a children's nutrition centre in Blantyre, Malawi.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm eager to learn anything! Jamming is always nice (to share). As for the teaching, I can teach you Dutch and French, and a bit of dancing or singing if you want to.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Belgium, Botswana, Curaçao, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malawi, Mozambique, Netherlands Antilles, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands