Not Verified
Gulfport, Florida, United States
@ALAYNE
Member since 2007
CURRENT MISSION Being open to the universe and trying to be the best person I can. * ABOUT ME I am divorced not married anymore but I can’t get it to change on the app. Also I have never smoked cigarettes or liked vaping so I have no idea why it’s on my profile. I would never write that. I love to travel, whether it is driving, flying, riding my bike...since I was a small child my family has always been one that travels. I will be going to Montreal in 2024 and I go back to rural Mexico, one of my favorite places in the world, every few years. I have CSed a lot. But due to some weirdness on the part of CS management I decided that I didn’t want to volunteer for a corporation but I still love the old school CS concept which I see in so many of us. I gave up being an ambassador and it’s helped my mental health. In October 2013, my friend Oy and I went to Thailand! It was so awesome. There are many things about me. One is that I am VERY outgoing. Another is that I am short but strong. I want to see and learn as much as humanly possible, dance, try local drinks and make new friends (the drinks probably help with all the rest). I love dogs and being outdoors. I don't mind if you underestimate me at first, but I really enjoy impressing you. While I try not to take myself or life too seriously, I am pretty dedicated to making this world a better place than I found it. I know it sounds corny but I love social justice projects and people who want to change the world. You inspire me! PHILOSOPHY Travel, explore, treat others as you would like them to treat you and be grateful every day, whose corollary is: eat, drink and be merry. Also, RUN FREE and enjoy the great outdoors. I think that we are all more connected than we realize and, at the same time, we make our lives complicated when they don't need to be. We should watch less TV and play less on TV/games, that's my philosophy. Go out and DO!
Interested in Adventure Sports
Fluent in English
Learning Portuguese
Pioneer Badge
Why I'm on Couchsurfing
HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING I have been a surfer and host. I only wish I could do it more...it is really fun! Without counting the CSers who crashed at my house after the party down the street....wink wink...I have hosted almost 30 beautiful souls! I am getting back into hosting here in Miami but it is challenging. Wowee! If I have left any friends off here, just let me know and I'll add you (my memory is not always the best!) Jan 2008 Doug Bohannon (Gasparilla) Jan.2008 Dennis Crow (Gasparilla) Feb 2008 Sergio Anaya Feb 2008 Scott Moore Feb 2008 Eduardo Arias and Eloide (France) April 2008 The Rev Bastien June 2008 Lady Lawyer AKA Cynthia June 2008 Serhat Sag and friend October 2008 Brandon Burrell November 2008 Abhinav Singhania (and he hosted me in India) March 2009 Ivan Gallegos May 2009 Asaf Biron July 2009 Michael Gary July 2009 Corina Graff and Desiree Franz July 2009 Terry and friends (Indian River CS Amb) August 2009 Lorraine Russo and Jesusito (?) October 2009 Tim Roelandt October 2009 Mateo Herrera November 2009 Deanna Savage and cousin May 2010 Matias Cabezas May 2010 Rebecca Davidson July 2010 Luciano DeAndrade January 2011 Ari Gold June 2011. Demelza and Glenn August 2011 Elizabeth, Pieter and Jim September 2011 PRZEMEK KOLENKIEWICZ and Katya October 2011 Sophie Hilaire and Nick Matics July 2012 Jose Luis (Miami) September 2012. Heather Howard (miami) September 2012. Elisabeth Besamer Miami October 2012 Elisabeth Besamer. Miami October 2012. Gareth Peard. Miami December 2012. Margie Henry, Miami April 2013. Esmeralda Herrero, Tampa May 2013. Jose Luis Amador, Tampa July 2013. Simon Kratzer, Miami COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE Turkey: İzmir and Istanbul (Galip and Fatosh)-9/2007 Phoenix, AZ (LARRY!)-5/2008 Miami Beach, FL (Hiroki)-1/2008 Washington DC (Caryl and Toni) then Toni again-1/2009 Walnut Bottom, PA (near Shippensburg)(Eric and Diana)-10/2008 Chandigarh and Delhi, India (with Abhinav and friends) Gainesville, FL (Heather)-12/2008 Davis Island, Tampa, FL (Susan and Sarah Fox)-7/2009 Humboldt County, Arcata, CA (Mateo Herrera)-9/2009 New Orleans, LA for VooDoo Fest (Robert Connelly)-11/2009 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Austen Bradbury and Laura)-12/2009 Miami/Aventura, FL (Rob Greeley) - 3/2010 Merida, Yucatan, MX (Daniel Estrella) - 3/2010 Flagstaff, AZ (Scott and Amanda!) - 5/2010 Baltimore, MD (Ivan Gallegos) - 7/2010 Washington, DC (Toni and Sam + dogs) - 7/2010 Avellino, ITALIA (Ivana Coluccino and family) - 12/2010 St. Augustine, FL (April and Conrad Matt) - 2/2011 Hollywood, SC (Scott and Tricia Moore) - 8/2011 Washington, DC (Toni and Same + dogs again) - 8/2011 Toronto, Canada (Maram!!! Bathsheba) - 4/2013 MUAH Bangkok, Thailand (Sutheera K!) Two times - 8/2013 CS is a far more intimate and enjoyable experience than staying in hotels. When people ask me, "Aren't you worried about staying with strangers?" I always answer, "You stay with strangers in hostels and hotels, but at least you feel like you know the hosts in CS."
Music, Movies, and Books
I am eclectic. What can I say? I just like what I like, which is almost every kind of music except country - I know my brother loves his truck but really I don't appreciate the song too much. He he! I watched this movie called "The Fountain" and I admire what they were trying to do but really it was kind of weird. Hugh Jackman becomes a plant. I watch a lot of different movies but Pedro Almodovar from Spain is my favorite director of all time. He is followed by the Coen Brothers, Mel Brooks and Woody Allen. This is not extensive but gives you an idea. I actually paid to see Walk Hard! Books: anything by Carl Hiaasen (I love his work), John Irving (Ciderhouse Rules), Franz Kafka was a genius, I also like chick-lit. I am a geek so I read a lot. Music: I love Gogol Bordello, rock en espanol and reggaeton, world music, I have seen Mana twice and Cafe Tacuba. Love live music. You can easily coax me to dance, and NO, I am not drinking.
One Amazing Thing I've Done
Carnaval Rio de Janiero 2007 Capadoccia, Turkey - I loved Goreme 2008 Hiked in Nepal - 2008 (WOW) Redwoods National Forest - 2009 We climbed Yosemite's Half Dome - 2009 (amazing) Grand Canyon again - 2010 Devil's Bridge (AZ) - 2010 Fireworks on New Year's Eve at Rome's Coliseo - 2010/11 Abhinav and Monica's Wedding in Chandigarh India - 2012 Ziplined through Northern Thailand Rain Forest - 2013 Whitewater Rafted through Northern Thailand - 2013 Lots of fun in Miami Beach, especially Halloween on Lincoln Road, 10/13 I am extremely privileged to work in diverse communities where I see the best (and worst) of humanity all the time. Even though there are rough spots, I am generally amazed at people in a good way. People have such amazing capacities to love, laugh and survive this crazy world. I am truly blessed to be a part of social change. I teach at various universities (University of So FL, Florida International University) and have an amazing group of student activists I advise. I also work at the Florida Institute for Community Studies and teach and do research. Actually, I am looking for mentees and mentors. Bathed with elephants in Nepal. Taught many many kids to read...Made some people smile.
Teach, Learn, Share
Paolo Freire rocks. I am enamored by his Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1973) and his concepts about the need to create critical conciousness in order to help people figure out who the oppressors are and do something about it. You can read more about him at 'Paulo Freire and informal education', the encyclopaedia of informal education. http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-freir.htm Last update: May 29, 2012] I do community-based participatory research. Ask me about this if you have a LOT of time. :)
What I Can Share With Hosts
I ****absolutely ***** dislike this stupid question, CSHQ.
My Interests
I love to be outside - beach, mountains, parks, forests, etc.... Animals Running Strong coffee Learning new things Dancing Good rum - like MYERS or Appleton Estates (not Bacardi) Patron tequila Friends Listening to wise people Cooking (especially ethnic dishes)
