CURRENT MISSION

My travel blog is https://lisakarpinski.com. I invite you to take a peek into my adventures there.
I am on the beat of nature, beauty, and hidden treasures in all forms, human and otherwise.

ABOUT ME

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1960s. My childhood was Bohemian - I was exposed at a young age to travel, art, music, and culture of all kinds. My family took several epic trips when I was young: a 4 month trip through Europe in a VW bus in 1968, a 6 week driving trip through Mexico in 1972, a 4 week trip to Canada, and camping trips all over California. I was an immigrant's kid: my father was born in Poland, while my mom's parents were from County Kerry Ireland. I was particularly partial to wild animals as a kid (and still am).

PHILOSOPHY

My early experiences taught me that no one is a stranger, that we all crave connection and love. I am horrified by violence and am ashamed of the myriad ways the US has imposed its hegemonic control over the world. I am a pacifist, and hope to spend my life learning deeply about the traditions and culture of others. As I learn, I am humbled.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love exploring the world and hope to be a respectful and considerate global citizen. I like to help visitors to this country and love being able to speak the native tongues of other lands.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been traveling as an adult since 2007 when I was asked to sail a friend's boat around the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. I started my couchsuring adventure in Istanbul and Selcuk, Turkey in 2010 and have continued to meet lovely folks around the world as I have been traveling 4 months every year since. I don't often stay with couch surfers as I don't like imposing, most often guerilla camping instead. But when I have it has been a wonderful experience and I loved every minute of it.

Interests

I'm an adventurer who loves beauty and nature in all its forms. I love being immersed in cultures different from my own, and am fascinated by tradition and custom including costume, language, dance, music, food, and spiritual beliefs. I love hiking in the forest, meeting new people, learning almost anything new

• arts
• culture
• writing
• poetry
• singing
• architecture
• beauty
• coffee
• politics
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• live music
• folk music
• hiking
• camping
• ecology
• history
• languages
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Historical fiction like A Woman of No Importance, The Book of Lost Names, The Paris Wife

Historical nonfiction like 1421, The House of Wisdom, The Lost City of the Monkey Gods

Biographies like Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci

Books on healing like The Body Keeps the Score 

Russian literature (Tolstoy, Chekhov)
Lots more...

My father forbade me from watching TV after the age of 8 so my film c.v. is rather limited. I haven’t yet got the habit as an adult, although I hope to expand my repertoire.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In June 1995 I decided to hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail near Castle Crags State Park in California. After carrying a much too heavy pack for 100 or so miles, I hitchhiked home, lightened my load, and headed back to the trail. I ended up hiking all the way to Canada that summer.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have spent my life studying ecological issues (including reintroduction of imperiled species like peregrine falcons, migratory habits of orcas, and hazardous waste management). I'm fascinated and fairly well studied in earth-based spiritual practices. I have experience as a technical and creative writer; on-the-road traveling; chemistry, math, writing, history, and environmental policy tutor; story telling; singing, acting and doing improv; playing musical instruments (piano, guitar, and clarinet); sailing; hiking and backpacking; long distance cycling, tennis, and team sports; folk dancing; and others that I can't think of at the moment.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm deeply interested in learning about others and am a very good listener. I love to learn about a place from someone else's perspective, walk around together, talk about history, politics, and culture, listen to music together, dance, sing, help with writing, explore shared interests.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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