Verified
Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel
@sonia_paola
Member since 2010
Hey everybody: Please *read* all the info in my profile (or anybody's profile) before writing, noting especially the "Additional Info" stuff under "My Home". This is important! I have worked mostly in the nonprofit/higher ed fields and enjoy being outdoors. In 2024, I spent some months doing protective presence work in the West Bank and before that for about 5 years I was leading a Buddhist meditation and retreat center. Before that, many other things, including university work. Love learning from people who know what they're talking about. Love being peaceful and observant. Don't care whether I see the big tourist attractions. Just want to experience places for what they are, and know where I was when I leave. Where you might find me: Wandering in a forest (best bet), shopping at a farmers market, rooting around in a pile of trash, chatting with neighborhood birds and dogs, careening around town on my bike, lurking in places of learning. Favorite tree: American beech Favorite bird: Cedar waxwing Favorite bird song: Wood thrush Favorite karaoke song: Superstition PHILOSOPHY We shall never achieve harmony with the land, anymore than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations the important thing is not to achieve but to strive. - Aldo Leopold
Interested in Adventure Sports
Fluent in English
Learning Arabic
Pioneer Badge
My ideal travel itinerary: planned or go-with-the-flow?
Go-with-the-flow!
Why I'm on Couchsurfing
HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING I have offered my home in Ohio, New York and most recently North Carolina. I have also endeared myself to hosts in other places by being an extremely responsible and respectful guest. I spent 9 months in 2011 traveling around the world and met a ton of extraordinary CSers. I have been a couchsurfing zealot ever since. COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE How great is this community? I find myself telling people about it all the time now. As guests and hosts it is truly rewarding. I traveled around the world for about a year in India, SE Asia, Hong Kong, Japan, Europe, the Mid East and West Africa. My current favorite destination is Poland. I have really enjoyed hosting guests at my home -- it feels good to return all the good karma from the surfing adventures. I almost love browsing the CS profiles as much as I enjoy the actual hosting/guesting experience. Great way to learn about a place -- through some of its residents.
One Amazing Thing I've Done
I've seen more amazing things than anyone could reasonably ask to in a lifetime. Part of it is keeping your eyes open. The other part is being prepared to be amazed.
My Interests
Ecology, sustainable local communities, meditation, cooking, handicrafts, turning "junk" into beautiful and functional things, human and non-human creatures, languages, universities, outdoor adventures, making myself useful to others.
