Hi! I'm Elisa and I'm from Lake Garda in Northern Italy.

At 19, I decided to take a gap year and worked in England. Leaving home, stepping outside of my comfort zone and experiencing life in a different country had a huge impact on me. I can say with certainty that this experience is what mostly made me the open-minded, curious, and adventurous person that I am today.
After coming back to Italy I graduated in Psychology and Neuroscience.
In 2023 I traveled solo through Southeast Asia, balancing sightseeing with volunteering for local projects.
I’m now back home, working as an Italian as a Second Language teacher while training to become a psychotherapist.

I love the CouchSurfing community. To me what's most precious is connecting, sharing, and learning from each other. “But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew you never knew."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I started using CS during my gap year in the UK out of curiosity, and I loved it. If nothing else, it completely changed my perspective on traveling! I met many interesting, generous, and inspiring people who helped me broaden my horizons and encouraged me to be more adventurous.

Interests

I enjoy reading (you'll rarely find me without a book), listening to music, and doing jigsaw puzzles. I also like both watching and doing sport (volleyball, cycling, and rock climbing), and I'm a big fan of board games.
Some years ago, I started playing the piano, which opened my eyes to the beauty of classical music.
More recently, during a meditation retreat in a Buddhist monastery in Thailand I discovered Vipassana meditation (a life-changing experience!), and since then I (try to) meditate as often as possible.

• folklore
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• puzzles
• music
• piano
• cycling
• sports
• rock climbing
• volleyball
• psychology
• languages and cultures

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite authors are Hesse and Dostoevsky, and my favourite book is "A man" by Oriana Fallaci, an Italian journalist and writer.
I have a broad taste in music, ranging from progressive rock and metal to classical music. I like discovering new music spontaneously through other people's suggestions.
Some movies that have a special place in my heart are The Lord of the Rings, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, Billy Elliot, Good Will Hunting, Les Misérables, and Her.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Snorkeling in the Red Sea as a child.
A cycling trip all the way around Lake Garda, my hometown. :)
Traveling solo in Southeast Asia for 4 months, volunteering at local schools in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am always happy to help anyone practice their Italian.
I’d also love to learn something about your country's history, culture, language, and of course food!
I truly enjoy listening to other people's stories, and I'm always happy to share my own perspectives and travel experiences, too. As a teacher and future therapist, I'm naturally curious about the human experience and always up for a deep conversation!

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Laos, Malta, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Italy