Aurita Maldonado's Photo

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  • Last login almost 3 years ago

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Overview

  • 42 references 29 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in Chinese, English, Spanish; learning French, Korean, Pashto, Pushto
  • 41, Female
  • Member since 2009
  • An advocate for adventure and realization of dreams.
  • Certified in Chinese, AA in Korean, BS in Liberal Arts wi...
  • From Hershey, PA, USA
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

To Conquer the world...one small hole in the wall town at a time while infecting folks with positivity, empathy, and wonder for this world.

ABOUT ME

My passions run my life. I love connecting with people through languages, and adventure. I am an adventure leader, river guide, gf vegan baker, dance instructor, and dance festival director. I've made trips with as little as 4 hours notice. It doesn't take a lot of convincing for me to do something awesome.

PHILOSOPHY

"The danger of an adventure is worth 1,000 days of ease and comfort."

"Love is ALWAYS multiplied. Never divided."

"Choosing indecision as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation."

"Nirvana is the moving Paw."

"Persistence and real determination alone are omnipotent."

"Carpe Diem," "Carpe Noctem," "Carpe everything!"

"Live life so completely that when death comes like a thief in the night, there's nothing left for him to steal."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Any way I can.
Though I've been out of the scene for the last 4 years or so, recovering...I'm finally back.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Lots. All. Amazing.

Interests

Running, trekking, climbing, canyoneering, salsa bachata and zouk dancing, surfing (novice), camping, fire dancing, sunrises, sunsets, challenges, jumping from stable and not so stable places, rafting, kayaking, learning, languages, adventure, travel, meeting new people, hearing new stories, learning new cultures, reading, writing, and having fun.

I blog. Http://www.tomorrowsnotguaranteed.com FOLLOW THE STORM!!!!!

Music, Movies, and Books

I love to read. Anything Paulo Coelho has written has passed through my shelves, although The Alchemist will always remain number one. (I don't keep books long. I think they should be shared). THE FOUNTAINHEAD!!!! Life of Pi, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Snow, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, Dharma Bums, On the Road, Travels with Charley, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, 100 Years of Solitude, Love in the Time of Cholera, Into Thin Air,The God of Small Things, The Prophet, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Last Lecture...the list goes on and on and on.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I decided to run the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon 6 days before the race. I finished, winning 3,000 pesos and 100 lbs of corn, which I then donated to the Raramuri.

I watched the sunrise from the top of Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean. (I climbed it with my gear on my back, not using a mule.)

I watched a sunrise from what felt like the roof of Afghanistan after 8 1/2 hours of "silent" climbing through the night with 80lbs of gear.

I went four days without food, hiking hard from dawn until dusk each day in the canyons outside of Boulder Utah.

I mastered baking gluten free breads while Wwoofing in Hana.

I learned to walk a second time. I was paralyzed in 2012.

I've looked into a man's eyes and known love.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a salsa and bachata instructor who was paralyzed in 2012 AFTER returning from Afghanistan. Combat wounded vet, too. I went from being an ultra runner to a wheelchair in 3 days. I've spent years recovering, learning to do everything a second time. I can help you learn salsa, bachata, merengue, chacha, zouk, or cumbia. I can help you recognize your own personal beauty. I can help you learn muscle isolations. Since I've learned them all a second time, I fully understand the mechanic behind the illusions. I can teach you English or what I know in Chinese, Korean, or Spanish.

I can teach you to forget about strings and live life to the fullest, if you're willing.

I'd like to learn more about photography, tango, more languages...always more languages, how to make sushi, can goods, make jewelry.

I can share stories, music, and life.

What I Can Share with Hosts

An inspirational story.

Countries I’ve Visited

Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Afghanistan, Iraq, United States

Old School Badges

  • 4 Vouches
  • Pioneer Badge

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