TL,DR in the end

Hi! I’m Aylin.
Let me start with something important: I know that being Israeli can bring up pain and strong emotions, and I want to acknowledge that openly. At the same time, what defines me most is my activism. I’m part of a movement where Palestinians and Israelis work side by side. Many times you’ll find me in the West Bank, standing with Palestinian families, joining protests, or simply trying to create small spaces of dignity and peace.

I’d love to share stories and perspectives if you’d like to talk about what’s happening. At the same time, I also deeply value the opposite: moments of quiet connection where politics take a back seat and we just cook together, laugh, or sit with a cup of tea. Sometimes I dream of being “from nowhere,” meeting people simply as another human being — carrying love and curiosity instead of a flag.

Outside of that, I’m playful, caring, and hands-on. Back home I’ve built a cooperative student café — a little cart where food, health, and community mix together every day. I love creating: cooking curries, fermenting vegetables, making chai, knitting scarves, or writing late at night. People usually say I bring both calmness and energy — I’m as happy having long, deep conversations as I am dancing in the kitchen while chopping vegetables.

I also carry a second home in my heart: New Zealand, especially Waiheke Island, where I lived for years. My dad and siblings are still there, and that island has shaped me as much as Israel has. Some of my favorite memories are the ferry rides across the bay, wandering its beaches (yes, even the hidden nude ones), walking through vineyards, and flying above the trees on the zipline. Those little adventures are still part of my everyday stories.

TL;DR
I’m Aylin — an Israeli activist with, often working alongside Palestinians in the West Bank. I love both deep conversations and quiet connections beyond politics. I’ve built a cooperative student café, I cook endlessly (curries, chai, cacao…), and I have a second home in New Zealand (Waiheke Island — beaches, ferry rides, zipline, even nude swims). Respectful, curious, sometimes a little messy but always trying my best — I travel for people, not monuments.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because traveling for me is about people, not monuments. I love meeting locals, hearing everyday stories, and seeing a place through your eyes. Couchsurfing feels like the most real way to do that.

Interests

• crafts
• crochet
• music
• beaches
• food
• nature
• adventures
• markets
• buddhism
• activism
• vipassana
• islam
• community
• spontaneity
• christianity
• judaism
• connecting
• fermenting
• crazy people

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite Music
I love music that I can really feel in my body and heart. Sacred circle songs, classic country, nostalgic voices like Peter, Paul and Mary, gospel and soul — anything with warmth and spirit. Honestly, most music moves me… except Greek. My family used to blast it full volume in my childhood and I think I’m still a little traumatized from that!

Favorite Movies
I love Hayao Miyazaki’s worlds — full of spirit, magic, and nature. I’m drawn to films that carry hope, that explore our connection with the natural world (like My Octopus Teacher), or that show the beauty in everyday life. I enjoy funny romances, and sometimes psychological horror — but never anything gruesome. What I can’t stand are heavy tragedy films; I’d rather watch something that leaves me with a sense of possibility or wonder.

Favorite Books
I’m a full-on fantasy buff — Potterhead, Tolkien lover, and I’ve devoured series like The Belgariad. I also dip into a bit of sci-fi, with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy holding a special place on my shelf.
At the same time, I love books that explore sexuality, womanhood, and spirituality: The Red Tent, Kdesha, Finding God Through Sex, and Women Who Run With the Wolves have all shaped me.
I’ve also read countless books about the mind-body connection — it’s a theme I keep coming back to.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I could write one here, but then where’s the surprise? Let’s swap stories face to face. much better told over a cup of tea in person 😉

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach
I can share cooking (curries, chai, cacao, fermentation experiments), stories from activism, and some knitting or craft skills. I can also teach a bit of Japanese, hebrew, meditation or tea rituals, and what I know about mind-body connection and more. And if you’re interested, I can share my experiences from activism and life between Israelis and Palestinians.

Learn
I’m always curious about local food traditions, languages, and everyday life wherever I am. I’d love to learn more Italian, gardening skills, traditional crafts, spiritual practices, or even just your favorite way to spend a Sunday. I also want to hear people’s views and experiences of the situation in Israel/Palestine (sometimes) — to listen, learn, and see through different eyes.

Share
A meal, a laugh, a walk, good conversations, and a hand with whatever needs doing. I can share music, markets, adventures, and even my small messy-but-trying-to-improve organizational tricks. Mostly, I like sharing presence and making people feel at home.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share food, because cooking is one of the ways I connect best with people. Sometimes it’s a curry, sometimes chai or cacao, and sometimes just putting together something healthy and simple from what’s around. I love cooking for others, and even more, cooking together.

I can also share help — in the kitchen, with cleaning, or in the garden. I don’t like being only a guest; I prefer to contribute and feel part of the household.

I share stories too: from my activism, my time living in New Zealand (or israel), or the small adventures of everyday life (like flying over forests on a zipline or finding hidden nude beaches). But it doesn’t always have to be stories — I also enjoy quiet company, music, or simply sitting with a cup of tea.

What I really try to share, wherever I go, is warmth, openness, and the feeling of being at home together.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Egypt, England, France, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russian Federation, Spain, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Israel, New Zealand