CURRENT MISSION

Spiriits of the dead, please rise up and proclaim your bird of passage."

ABOUT ME

You could never really get to know me... but you can try! :)

Maybe you will be the lucky person that will get to know me! :) So try your luck!

I am laughing at life as I fall down the stairs.
I am a wild and crazy girl.
I like to jump and swing off trees.
All right but seriously, I love to try new things; learn about new cultures; live life to the fullest-- I am fearless!
I love to do anything outdoorsy-- rock climbing; biking; hiking, yup you name it! :)
I believe in magic and anything mystical or spiritual.

Ok well here it goes:

Greetings!

Welcome to my CS page and thanks for coming! :)

Maybe you're here because you want to visit America; more specifically Massachusetts! :)

But if you do plan to come, please message me! :)

My name is Stephanie and am currently a college student at Hampshire College, out in Amherst, MA. I am currently studying Chinese, Psychology and Jewish Cultural identity. These three areas that I am studying are things that I am very passionate about. After this, I plan to go onto grad school to get my masters degree to become a social worker. It means a lot to me to help others and make a difference in their lives. It's my mission in life to bring joy and comfort to others.
Another goal is to join the Peace Core. Try road trip (travel cross country)
I only try to see the good in people, and see all people as good. I am optimistic about life. I am a humanist. I love all people, and I want others to do the same as well. Love only breeds love.
I love anything colorful. When people as me what my favorite color is, I reply "rainbow." :)
Still trying to find out who I am in this labrynth of a world. I am not worried, since creation is happening constantly, and life is a learning process.
I have so many interests and have a mutlifaceted personality-- people get too caught up and romanticize about what I will be like, and sometimes get dissapointed when they meet me. It all depends which point of my life I am at!
I love to travel, but due to being a poor college student, I am not able to travel as frequently as I would like to.
I wish that couchsurfing had the option under "Where I have traveled" to include states + provinces-- I have traveled to four countries, and it makes me look like I am not well traveled, when in reality, I have been traveling well throughout the US--it's a big country-- Despite that I have been to several states, there are still a lot of places that I need to explore, and still a lot of places, people, politics, cultures, subcultures and ideas about my own country that I need to know.
So for the upcoming future, my travels with CS will be in the US, but hopefully I can expand my CS experiences beyond the borders! :)
So here is a complete list of all of the states + areas of the US that I have been to:

*Arizona
*Connecticut
*Georgia
*Hawaii
*Louisiana
*Maryland
*Massachusetts
*New Hampshire
*New Jersey
*New York
*North Carolina
*Pennsylvania
*Rhode Island
*South Carolina
*Vermont
*Virginia
*Washington DC

Here is my online blog if you are interested:
ILoveMorris!

WARNING .
CS is NOT a dating site. I wanted to reitterate that here, since I have gotten messages from guys who have nothing in common with me + want "to date" me.
I purposely do not have my MSN, SKYPE AIM names on my profile(unless people ask me, and we have actually TALKED here on CS or have met in person), since this one random guy saw my MSN name, started to talk to me on MSN, + asked me a really perveted question: "Are there any nude beaches in Croatia?" Seriosuly, why ask me if I have never been there, never mind never met me nor know what I want?
So forget it. You have come to the wrong place.

PHILOSOPHY

You only live once so take advantadge of every oppurtunity!
Life is like an adventure-- hold on to that roller coaster, since you don't know if it is gonna make some twits or turns!!!

In the end, love always wins.

Destroy of mind, destroy of body, but you can not destroy the heart!-> "Fuck You (An Ode to Noone)" by The Smashing Pumpkins

"The simplest way that I can understand therapy is that we're born a certain way, we're taught to be something different, and we spend our whole lives trying to unravel it and ultimately align ourselves with who we really are. Life, experiences, traumas -- whatever -- they all add up to make you some altered version of what you are. So there's this battle that goes on between what you are and what you become, and it's been very important for me to unravel what I was taught to be or what I became. and to draw a direct parallel to music -- the closer I get back to being who I really am, the stronger the music gets, because I think what talent I do have is connected to that person, it's not a manipulative process, it's intuitive. You can learn about chords and guitars, but there's a piece of you that makes it individual, and it's been a slow process for me to become whatever it is that I'm supposed to be." -- Billy Corgan

"The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death."~ Oscar Wilde

"Nothing is true and everything is permitted."

"Your basic person wants to talk about material culture, internet culture. I think about God, cats, nature."-- Billy Corgan

I can tell u all, that the world is in deep shit and needs some help!!!!!!!!!--> my friend, Drew

Don't worry about people from your past-- there's a reason why that they didn't make it to your future!

"Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you."
-Ovid

"Technically, we all are alone."- Billy Corgan

Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.
-- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

"Travel the world, traverse the skies
Your home is here within my heart"-- Stand Inside Your Love by The Smashing Pumpkins

If there is a God
I know he likes to rock
He likes his loud guitars
And he is spiders from Mars....
Because I'm down here throwing stones
While you're so far from home
"If There Is a God" by The Smashing Pumpkins

"Cry, Cry, Cry," by Billy Corgan

Cry, cry, cry for the brave and her passioned soldiers
Cry for the soul unsheltered from the storm
Cry for me, for I've lost my heart
Cry for yourself, unlucky to have been born
Cry out of anger, but don't cry of despair
For the world doesn't cry
They don't care

"The ideal husband is unmarried"- Oscar Wilde

"I know what it feels like to wake up and want to go right back to bed. So anyone who's feeling that way now, I'm down with you. You've got to have faith that it will end, you know."--> Kevin Cadogan

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I lived in Boston for the summer (summer 2008), and I had the pleasure to partake in so many different CS activities and oppurtunities, whether it was hosting a traveler, showing people around Boston, or going to several of the CS events in Boston, which several of the members from the Boston group hosted.
I hosted a few events as well while I was in Boston, such as going out to the movies to see the film, "Step Brothers;" a picninc in Boston Common and an outing to a Brazilian restaurant, Olvierdas in East Boston.
Currently, I spend my time between Amherst, MA (where I study at Hampshire College) and Worcester, MA (my home city-- it's where my family lives!). I have been pretty active with the CS group where I go to school (The Pionner Valley/Western Mass CS group), and I put together a get together at a local Thai restaurant. It was so much fun to see so many others that were into the CS spirit!:) I am hoping to plan some more events for the CS group near my school.
I also just started the Worcester/Central MA CS group,
Worcester/Central MA Couchsurfing
and am hoping to promote tourism and CS events in my home city (whenever I am home from school that is :) ).
I also just became a moderator for the group "Peace in the Middle East,"Peace In The Middle East
and it has been a great experience so far, hearing so many people's different stories and experiences. Everyone in that group is my teacher. :)

I am hoping to start a few more CS groups on different topics, places, ideas, social movements, interests, etc. so please keep your eyes open! :)

I love going to the meetups, or going out to party with other CSers. I have always had a great time. CS is filled with lots of great open minded people.
I hope in the future to travel, and hopefully I can couchsurf on other people's couches. I especially hope to visit the couchsurfers that I have hosted in their hometowns and/or home countries!
Also, to those that I have couchsurfed with or surfed at their couches, I am extending a warm welcome to surf at my couch anytime! :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted:
Sinem from Turkey

Lucy from Australia

Miriam from Germany

Sabrina from Switzerland

I surfed at:
Octavio's couch in Boston

Luis's couch in Woodside, Queens, New York

Jasmine & Ley's Couch in Washington DC

I have surfed with:
Tiago from Brazil

Veronique from France

Cat from Russia

I have traveled with:

Dwayne

Luis

While living in Boston this past summer, I attended a bunch of Couch Surfing Events in the Boston area, and got active in the community. Meet people from all over, sharing wonderful stories and experiences together.
Currently I am residing out in Amherst, MA for school, and have been pretty active getting some events activities for the Pioneer Valley/Western Mass CS.
So far, I have had a variety of experiences, mostly good experiences.
And from the experiences that were not as good, I have learned a lot about how to become a better host, participant, surfer what have you.
I try to make the best of all situations :)

NOTE:
While I enjoy making new friends from all parts of the world, all walks of life, I find it really refreshing if when I write a reference for someone, and I receive a reference back.

Why?
Here are some ideas (below) as to why this is important to me:

What was your experience like with me?
What did you enjoy?
Was I a good host/guest?
What could I have done better?
What types of activities did you like?

Having a reference gives me an idea of how I can become a better host or friend and I can apply for the next CS experience; and for the things that went well, these will be experiences that will always be cherised in my memory! :)
I am not saying that you have to write a reference right away, but I would really appreciate that you write one back to me eventually :)

兴趣

TONS!
But here are a few, to give you an idea of what I like in a nutshell! :) :

*Textile Art
*languages
*Thailand
*tennis
*Indonesia
*decor fashion
*cats
*kittens
*zebra finches
*vegeterianism
*philosophy
*environmental issues
*politics
*history
*fashion
*hiking
*rockclimbing
*running
*try new kinds of food
*cooking
*mental health issues
disability rights
helping those that need help
working with children (I may become a teacher someday)
Chinese language
Chinese culture
just China in general! (I am going to be studying abroad there in 2009! :D),
Tibet
Tibetan language
Tibetan culture
Mao Ze Dong;
Che Guerra
Phantom of the Opera (the Broadway play)
Benicio Del Torro
spending time with my family
planning events
Drew Barrymore
Whoopi Golderberg
science
feminism
cross cultural psychology
social movements
museums
queer studies
gay and lesbian rights
chess
Latin America
teratogens
hugs
small New England towns
Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont
piercings
knitting
Post-Colonial Theory

• cats
• arts
• culture
• books
• singing
• fashion
• photography
• coloring
• piercings
• womens rights
• dining
• cooking
• cheese
• running
• partying
• politics
• movies
• chess
• traveling
• socializing
• blogging
• knitting
• drawing
• magic
• music
• opera
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• skiing
• rock climbing
• tennis
• teaching
• history
• languages
• law
• psychology
• science
• social work
• tourism
• beaches

音乐、电影和书籍

Books. Libros.ספר:
"She's Come Undone" By Wally Lamb
"Ivanhoe"
"Candyfreak" by Steve Almond
"The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair
"Demian" by Hermann Hesse
"The Odyssey"
"The Israelies: Founders and Sons" by Amos Elon
"The Bondswoman's Narrative" by Hannah Crafts

Music. Musica.מוסיקה:
*Smashing Pumpkins--> My all time favorite band!
:D --> So if you are enthusiastic as I am, we are bond to get along!
*CSS
*The Cure
*Stone Temple Pilots
*Pearl Jam (whenever I hear Pearl Jam, I think of my special CS friend! :) ).
*Jewel
*The Beatles
*The Beach Boys
*Andrew Lloyd Weber (The Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack)
*Madonna
*Republica
*The Spice Girls
*Cindy Lauper
*Peter Gabriel
*The Cranberries
*The Sounds
*The Beastie Boys
*The Foo Fighters
*Frank the Baptist Singer (and kudos to you if you know who I am talking about! ;) )
*Rammstein
*Marilyn Manson
*Kajagoogoo
*Poison
*Courtney Love (I used to think that she was a bitch until I heard about her childhood, and how she changed the image of a woman on a guitar )
*Linda Strawberry (I used to see her as a bitch as well, but now I like her, lol)
*Michael Jackson (I still admire him, since he has a great heart)
*Duran Duran
*Amber--> she is an inspiration to me, and has taught me that if I want something, make sure that I work hard to get it and prove to others that I want it! (Especially her hit songs, "This is Your Night," "You Move Me" & "Sexual" ).
*The Turtles
*The Kinks
*"The Rainbow Connection" -->I believe that it is by Jim Hinson (since it was in the Muppet Movie, but I could be totally wrong), but it is one of my favorite songs, since it brings all of the people's hearts together.

*Birthday Massacre
*Kid Rock
*U2
*Tears for Fears
*Dystopia
*Korean Pop
*Latin + Spanish Music
*Depeche Mode
*Public Enemy

And anything else that is from the 1980s or 1990s to bring back good childhood nostalgia! :)

Movies. Peliculas.סרט קולנוע:

*Edward Scissorhands (I seriously cry EVERY time I see this movie!)
*Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion
*Stepbrothers + any other movie that has Will Ferrell in it
*Spaceballs
*Goodwill Hunting
*The Pianist (Another moving movie that makes me cry)
*The Muppet Movie
*National Treasure
*Thank You for Smoking
*Factory Gilrs (Documentary about the life of Edie Sedgewick, friend and inspiration for Andy Warhol)
*Boys on the Side
*Never Been Kissed
*The Little Mermaid
*Babe (The film about the pig-- not to be confused with other films)

And any other sort of documentaries or films that are "food for thought"

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

*I've ridden a camel
*I went squatting out in New Orleans to see what it would be like to be a homeless person
* I fell in love
*I broke my great toe when I was 19 while be a camp counselor at an overnight camp in the Berkshires. As a result, I ended up having to get surgery (since my toe did not heal correctly), and was in a cast for several weeks and then a wheelchair. I found this experience to be a blessing, since it opened a whole new perspective to me of what it's like to have a "disability," and how to overcome architectural barriers, and find accessible routes to get into buildings. Ever since, I have been active in disability rights and activism, and even started a group at my school! :)

*I worked at Chuck E Cheese's, and I dressed up as the mouse. It was so great to receive so many hugs from children and their families, and to see smiles on their faces :)

*Being able to see my all time band, The Smashing Pumpkins play for the first time, after listening to their music for years! :)

*I think to live is a blessing in itself, and I think to have the oppurtunity to experience life is an amazing thing.

*Being able to learn to love others and all people, even if I initially did not like them earlier

教，学，和分享

Teach:

*I sing, and maybe we can sing together. I have a soprano voice, so maybe I can teach you how to sing like a soprano ;)
*I can teach you about Jewish history.
*I love to ski, and have been skiing just about all of my life. I can teach you
*If you need someone to talk to; a shoulder to lean on; need a helping hand in any sort of situation or problem you are in-- I am here for you. I want to make sure that everyone is happy ! :) (I've been through several dark forests, not know where to look or whom to go to, and I want to make sure that others don't have to go through that, especially when traveling!).
*I am not looking for much, but if you have a heart, I am willing
to share my love to others and the world! :)

Share:

*I like to play chess--> I still an amatuer but would be willing to play with others, and maybe learn some new skills! :)

Learn:
*Learn new languages is always a plus! :)
*Learn more about how computers work (Seriously, I am computer illiterate! The Mac Book Pro seriously saved my life!)
*Someone that can help me improve with my photography

我游览过的国家

Canada, Israel, United Kingdom, United States

我居住过的国家

United States

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