**when you write me a message/couch request, please make it thoughtful. Why me? What do you want to experience in LA? Why LA? etc... **

I am a 32 year old architectural designer, photographer, and ballerina. I love to travel, ride bicycles around the city, watch movies, read, and listen to music. When I travel I collect postcards and ad cards. I love to ride the metro. I tend to go through other peoples' trash to gather cool looking things or items that I might use. I am quite "green" if you want to call me that and really want to "save the world" one day, one recycling bin at a time. I graduated from an art school so it's only natural for me. I'm also rather a big advocate for public transportation.

Although I am insanely pale (well, that's how others put it), I have mexican blood running through my veins. I'm a first generation 'chicana' (i actually don't like using that word) from California.

I'm also a huge travel bug.
I'm fascinated by anything Russian.
Being a designer, I think sleep is overrated.
But when I do need sleep, I truly treasure it.

If there is a couchsurfer that is willing to come to ballet classes with me (and of course dance, too!), I typically go Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Beginners, Intermediate, and Adv. welcome! :]

Although I have been all over Mexico and Europe (I studied in Italy for a year), I would love to travel to Japan, Argentina, Turkey, and Vietnam someday.

PHILOSOPHY
"You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." --Winnie the Pooh

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing introduced me to a wonderful and inviting world of individuals - all so different from one another, but yet amazing. From free-spirited people, to traditionally minded folks, to adventurous types - I love to meet everyone and learn from them.

Interests

Ballet/Dance
Photography
Architecture/design
riding bicycles
archery
watching movies
Postcrossing

...and people watching

• cats
• arts
• writing
• architecture
• design
• photography
• coachella
• dancing
• ballet dancing
• running
• movies
• traveling
• music
• rock climbing
• swimming
• archery

Music, Movies, and Books

MOVIES >>Broken English, Amelie, Paris je t'aime, The Artist, Paper Heart, 500 Days of Summer, Departures, Away We Go, La Faute à Fidel, Pride and Prejudice, Everything is Illuminated // MUSIC >>muse, coldplay, cold war kids, yeah yeah yeahs, cut copy, the presets, regina spektor, gotye, sigur ros, shiny toy guns, // BOOKS>> Madness is Better than Defeat, Catcher In The Rye, 100 Years of Solitude, Brave New World, The Fountainhead, J-Pod, Anthem, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

ONE amazing thing? no: had an incredible 3 week honeymoon all over Norway and Iceland, gotten lost in Amsterdam (Zeeberg), dipped my toe into the Aegean Sea, snowboarded in heavy snowfall in Alps, climbing the pyramids of the Aztec, swam besides the Mayan temples, designing an art installation for Coachella 2009 and 2010, white nights in St. Petersburg, wild strawberry picking in Finland, experiencing -14C weather in Quebec, an almost record-breaking blizzard while in Providence...

Teach, Learn, Share

big tip!: have an external mobile/cell-phone charger. Smart phones drain batteries, and because most likely you will be out and about for hours, the battery might die and communication might cease between us.

also, i'm not a super hero. although that would be cool. so as a coushsurfer, one needs to be prepared always for last minute changes/emergencies - hey, it happens. So don't sleep out on the streets (i've met CSers who have done this). There is a hostel off of Hollywood Blvd/Orange St that has reasonable rates. or use the LA emergency page!

weird thing: don't floss your teeth when you are talking to me. it's weird.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My cats can offer you some love, I always have tea for CSers, and the metro is just a block away!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Denmark, Italy, United States

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