Hello,
i'm Itay . a part-time engineer, part time outdoor fan, and a part time social volunteer (i.e. i volunteer in some organizations where i think i can make a difference ). i'm also gay:)

I'm 39yo and work as a software engineer.

i'm aware that my name's not compatible with the English language ( i blame the parents:) ) - it's pronounced e-tai or you can also call me ethan, which is actually close enough in hebrew.

In my off time, i like to hike, go canyoning, caving, swim, rock climb, dive and just be outdoors.

i grew up in a small settlement near tel aviv and as long as i remember was a nature child ( torn/muddy cloths, interest in bugs and animals - you get the picture)

In my spare time i volunteer. one of best experience was serving as a "big brother" in a child-rehabilitation home sponsored by "Elem" (organization for teenagers from ruined homes). taking a 17yo guy to navigate by moonlight (and not falling into any open wells in the process) is my kind of fun.

i also volunteer in a lgbt organization called hoshen (hebrew initials for "education and change" www.hoshen.org) for gay and lesbian, bi and transgender openness and tolerance.

also volunteered at:
vegetarian cook at a 10 day vipassana.
greenhouse worker
organic farm worker in costa rica
spanish translator in nicaragua in an eco lodge ( forgot most of my spanish though)

I've got high aspirations to be a diving instructor. when i grows up ( hopefully in the near future ) and an abseiling instructor - all in small, calculated steps.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

mainly because i like travelling and i like meeting people.

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE:
if you're in israel to hike , i know how complicated it is to know where to hike and on which season when you're in a foreign country.

do you need advice about hiking? (Israel or Jordan) - I'll be happy to help and maybe can loan the gear and maps.

I usually do something exciting every weekend in Israel (sometimes on both Friday and Saturday) - and you are welcome to join.

for example, in summer i go hiking by moonlight or in rivers, caves or go diving.
in winter i sometimes go flood watching, or just hiking in the greener or wilder parts of Israel.

most of these places are off the beaten path (sometimes off-off if we get lucky) and it's always cool to share these places with new people.

if i'm busy ( middle of the week etc.) , i can check with friends to see if anyone's free or help with tips.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Being Hosted by a Turkish family on the lycian trail and given food and shelter without being asked.

Given a ride in Costa Rica by a nice lady - which returned 15 min and 10 miles later in order to return me my wallet which I've left in her car. ( I'm quite the day-dreaming type and constantly losing stuff. i know)

These are just a few of the examples so i try to pay it back.

Interests

well...
Nature, and nature related extreme activities form a big part of my interests.
diving, hiking, climbing, swimming caving, abseiling, canyoning, via ferrata and a bit of cycling.

indoor activities:
i'm a big fan of books in general.
cooking on my spare time, though I'm just an amateur.
yoga and other sports are cool too.

• animals
• books
• education
• dining
• cooking
• vegetarian
• yoga
• instructor
• traveling
• house work
• socializing
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• spelunking
• scuba diving
• sports
• rock climbing
• swimming
• cartography
• teaching
• engineering
• languages
• software
• volunteering
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

books: Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Douglas Adams, jasper fforde, ian banks,

music: Tori Amos, Sting, Susan Vega, U2, yehudit ravitz, florence and the machine

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've climbed the Ararat mt in turkey (5134m),in 3 days, last day started at 3am in the morning and we reached the summit at noon - pretty cool hike

being a "big brother" (through a program) to a kid with a troubled background for 4 years - that was pretty awesome

Teach, Learn, Share

i can teach abseiling, rope work and some desert and wilderness skills.

What I Can Share with Hosts

i can cook! ( as long as you don't expect me to bake:)) )
especially middle eastern / far east dishes.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belize, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Israel

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