CURRENT MISSION

I'm new to Christchurch, England, and would love to discover the are with new friends.

ABOUT ME

I love cycling, dancing (jazz, contemporary), hiking, surfing, picnics, and making inappropriate jokes!

Career-wise, I finished my undergrad in business and specialized in microfinance (giving small loans to the poor in developing countries). I manage data projects in 10 countries from the comfort of my boyfriend's home in Christchurch! And I loove it!

Throughout the years, I've done some human rights advocacy in India, taught English in China, and started a Toastmasters club (self-paced public speaking and leadership learning program) in my uni in Canada. I spent a year and a half working in Central Asia, some time in Egypt and West Africa.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

CS is one of the most authentic ways to travel, and it's not about a free hotel. It's about a simple human connection, about stripping down cultural barriers, fostering trust, and practicing genuine kindness.

I've surfed and hosted quite a few times now, and each time I had an unforgettable experience. People never stop to surprise me with their kindness.

Interests

Cycling. I've done a couple of long-term trips, so far only in Canada.

Hiking. It's my dream to hike through all of US's national parks.

Yoga. For me, it was a natural transition to make from gymnastics. I am very fond of hot yoga!

Dancing. I danced all my life because of being a professional gymnast. I've performed and taught dancing for several years. I absolutely love jazz, lyrical, and tango.

Surfing. I've only surfed for 3 weeks; in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Now, my goal is to become really really good during the upcoming trip to Costa Rica!

Data. I'm doing my Master's on data science next year. Super psyched about that!

Reading. Anything that captivates.

Sewing, knitting, jewelry-making. I've always liked to make my own clothes and jewelry.

I'm a sucker for podcasts: NPR Planet Money, RadioLab, Note to Self, This American Life, Stuff you should know... and many more!

• culture
• folklore
• concerts
• festivals
• dancing
• human rights
• dining
• yoga
• clubbing
• clothing
• technology
• reading
• traveling
• knitting
• jazz
• cycling
• hiking
• gymnastics
• business
• volunteering
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

Yes! All of them.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've made many impulsive decisions (all about traveling) that I never regretted. They included transferring unis because I fell in love with a small town of 6,000 in Nova Scotia, Canada; accepting a volunteer placement in India; deciding to bike across parts of Canada for a month; moving to Central Asia for an exciting job; and moving to England for love.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:

Russian or English
Yoga or dance classes
Russian salad, if you care to learn!
Knitting, sewing, jewelry-making.

Learn:

Your culture, passions, and how you see life.
I'd love to learn your mom's tastiest recipe! I'm a sucker for good food, especially if it's family tradition.
How to fix bicycles.
How to surf better.
Tango!

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Croatia, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, England, India, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia

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