CURRENT MISSION

Experience new cultures, learn more about people and life

ABOUT ME

I'm a Psychology major, Russian minor. Psychology, to me, helps me to understand myself and human nature in general. I really want to help people! I'm not sure exaclty how, but I will!!! I plan on either working for a non-profit organization, building one, or joining the Peace Core or Teach for America after I graduate.

I volunteer for a domestic violence intervention organization in Portland, Oregon that is part of Volunteers of America called Home Free. I answer the hotline, give people all sorts of information, assist survivors in leaving the violent situation, and give emotional support which sometimes means simply being the person on the other end of the line. I'm extremely passionate about helping people, and also in getting information out there to prevent terrible things like domestic violence from happening.

I play varsity volleyball for Lewis & Clark College, going into my third season next semester. I enjoy pretty much all sports, except for golf because I'm really terrible at it! But even if you're terrible, you can still have fun! I love beach volleyball, tennis, swimming, hockey, basketball.

I also love being outdoors. Sunshine makes me happy. Interesting cloud shapes are awesome, too. Anything I can do outside like going for walks, rollerblading, biking, I love to do.

I'm probably happiest when I'm volunteering and helping people, playing sports, walking through the Oregon forest on a sunny day, or when I successfully completed a task completely in Russian.

PHILOSOPHY

Laughter is infectious.

If you're afraid to jump, dive head first!

A smile can change someone's day.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm a newbie to CS but I plan on surfing more and hosting when I can.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

First-time couchsurfer!

Interests

Psychology, Russian, volleyball, nature (especially the Oregon forest!), painting, writing poems and short stories, desserts (anything chocolate!), my kitty, Scamper! (even though I'm allergic to cats...), cheese, Russian food, sushi, baking goodies for friends, rocking out to the song in your head

• cats
• writing
• poetry
• dining
• chocolate
• cheese
• desserts
• baking
• walking
• painting
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• surfing
• sports
• basketball
• hockey
• tennis
• volleyball
• swimming
• golf
• psychology
• volunteering
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: just saw How to Train your Dragon and loved it! but movies that I could watch over and over are Lilo & Stitch, A Lot Like Love, Monsters, Inc., Office Space, The Matrix, Forest Gump, Finding Nemo, Ponyo

TV shows: My roommate got me hooked on Dexter and Chuck. I love cartoons, though! Especially Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends

Music: Storm Large, Ludo, Tegan & Sarah, Voxtrot, Jupiter Sunrise, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ben Folds, Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, Cake, Death Cab for Cutie, Frank Sinatra, Mika, The Temptations, The Bravery, Kool & the Gang, Leonid Utyosov

Books: Favorite of all time = The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Rabbits & Boa Constrictors by Fazil Iksander. The Master & Margarita by Bulgakov. Gogol. Dostoevsky. Currently reading Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sydney Harbour bridge climb. Parasailing around Fiji. Marched in the Victory Day parade (May 9th) in St. Petersburg 2010. Walked around Stonehenge.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Fiji, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Russian Federation, United States