Hi! My name is Sofi or Sofia. I've lived between Mar del Plata and Buenos Aires, Argentina and California my entire life. Despite the obvious difficulties associated with moving around so much, I can now appreciate how I've grown more adaptable and flexible to changing circumstances. I studied International Relations in Buenos Aires and later moved to San Diego to do an M.A. in Latin American Studies. Throughout my degrees, I've researched for various institutions and professors, farmed in Alaska, volunteered at NGO's as an instructor and taught Spanish through the UCSD Linguistics Department to undergraduate and graduate students. I'm hoping to take time off to learn more about my continent and the people who inhabit it, as well as those passing through and to simply live and learn outside of the classroom and academic setting.

Hola! Mi nombre esa Sofia o Sofi. Soy Argentina pero vivi entre Mar del Plata y Buenos Aires y San Diego, California toda mi vida. Aunque cada mudanza tuvo sus grandes dificultades, ahora puedo apreciar que me han hecho mas flexible y adaptable. Estudie Relaciones Internacionales en Buenos Aires y despues hice una maestria en Estudios Latinoamericanos en San Diego, CA. A lo largo de mi estudio, tuve la oportunidad de hacer varios voluntariados en ONGs como instructora, investigacion para instituciones y profesores, trabajar en una granja en Alaska y ensenar espanol a alumnos de grado y maestria en la Universidad de California, San Diego. Espero tomarme un tiempo para aprender mas sobre mi continente y las persoanas que lo habitan como tambien sobre aquellas que estan de paso y simplemente vivir y aprender fuera del aula.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

After having lived divided between countries and cultures, I've come to deeply appreciate human interactions and exchanges. One of the beauties of travelling is forging profound connections with humans from across the globe and realizing that we are all more alike than we'd like to think. At the same time, these brief encounters and fleeting moments expand our knowledge about how others live their lives, about different beliefs and customs that shape their daily context. Sometimes they make us question deeply rooted beliefs about our world and or ourselves, other times they teach us how to appreciate our lives a little more. Couchsurfing seems like the perfect medium to connect with humans and get a small glimpse of life elsewhere.

Interests

Despite having spent considerable amounts of time studying, I have always tried to escape to the mountains on day hikes or camping trips to get away from the city and be in nature. I love being outdoors and working on chores outside, going on treks, etc.

Aunque he pasado demasiado tiempo estudiando, siempre que podia me escapaba de la ciudad para hacer alpinismo o camping. Amo la naturaleza y las actividades como trekking, etc.

• arts
• writing
• poetry
• salsa dancing
• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• reading
• traveling
• hiking
• backpacking
• anthropology
• solo travel
• budget travel
• food
• nature
• cultures
• sustainable living
• organic farming
• nature conservation

Music, Movies, and Books

I love music- a day without music is quite a rare occasion. I have a really eclectic taste for music; sometimes I want to rock away to Sting, or Van Morrison, Neil Young or Bob Dylan. Other times I prefer indie rock or folk music, or sappy 90's tunes, or reggae. Sometimes it's reggeaton and others it's Chichi Peralta or old Latin American rock. Classical music, blues and jazz are always go to's.

It's just as difficult to pick a favorite book. Sometimes books provide me with what I need in a specific point in my life and speak to me. This happened to me with The Drowned and the Saved by Primo Levi, Rayuela by Cortazar, Siddharta by Herman Hesse, and one that I am still trying to fully grasp, The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. Of course, the Harry Potter saga will always have a special place in my heart.

Movies...I'm far from being a film expert, but I really loved Boyhood, A Beautiful Life, Amelie, The Shawshank Redemption, The Origin...there are so many great movies! The only genre that I can't stand is terror.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

As a researcher, but mainly as a human, I'm interested in subjects related to human rights and gender equality. I don't think I'd call it amazing, I have mixed feelings about my participation and use of data in this situation, but I did my fieldwork for my M.A. in prisons. I worked with women who had been multiply imprisoned for selling drugs and touched on topics of autonomy and agency. It was a really difficult and eye opening experience, one from which I'd leave every time feeling more conflicted about the world (and also my place as a researcher and my responsibility as a human). The women that I encountered throughout my research were truly courageous, taking life with all its hardships and unfairness head on, persevering. I was able to peep into their lives behind bars through my research and communicate what I observed and experienced by writing a thesis. Again, I don't consider myself to be amazing because of having done this, but on a personal level, the entire process, from the prep work to the oral defense, was difficult and overwhelming at times.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Other than my own experiences and fun energy, I can cook quite well (especially vegetarian dishes), I can help farm vegetables, teach Spanish or English. I have limited knowledge about yoga and meditation, but I'd be interested in sharing and learning more about both. I'd love to talk about ideas, philosophize about life and the world, nature and ourselves. I'd also love to share a hike or walk around town.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Slovenia, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, Ecuador, United States