CURRENT MISSION

settling in in San Francisco

ABOUT ME

I am born in Austria, Tyrol (I do carry a 'mountain mentality'), lived in Vienna for 9 years and near Cologne for 2 years. I spent quite some time in New York and 11 years in France near Paris. Now, I just moved to the Bay Area and I am still settling in.

I identify as a lesbian. If this is a problem for you please do not contact me. I am interested in true and honest connections with people. I like to talk and listen and share personal experiences. I am curious and I do ask questions. I am especially interested in how people become what they are and how they deal with cultural challenges when living/travelling abroad.

PHILOSOPHY

This is a hard box to fill out...
I'd say:
-Hedonist
-Feminist
-Phenomenologist
-Existentialist
-mindfulness

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I like meeting people, through hosting and surfing.
I was a co-moderator of 'Queer Paris'group for about 2 years.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I had some experiences as a surfer and host. I met people for a 'coffee or drink. I attend local couch surfing meetings. All my hosting/surfing experiences were good ones - to keep this this way, I choose to be rather selective.

Interests

Lifestyles: I think it goes for itself, that as a couch surfer, I am always interested in how it is to live in a certain place

Art: Modern and historic architecture, Theater, Opera

Psychology: the brain is one of the most fascinating things I encountered so far
Psychotherapy: Yalom, Rogers

Sports: I go on long walks in towns or 'nature', I work out in the fitness center, I like to bike and swim, I would like to do more scuba diving.

Yoga! (practiced daily for a while - would like to get into it again)

Food: Eating good food, visiting food markets, learning about new ingredients and how to use them

and of course,
Travel more...

• arts
• theater
• architecture
• perfumes
• festivals
• dining
• wine
• coffee
• wine tasting
• fitness
• yoga
• working out
• meditation
• drinking
• traveling
• socializing
• opera
• cycling
• surfing
• scuba diving
• sports
• boxing
• swimming
• nursing
• psychology
• language exchange

Music, Movies, and Books

I have a rather 'light' approach here. Movies, music and books are entertainment/distraction for me. This means I do not necessarily connect over them. I do not categorize people depending on the music they listen to. I like classical music, though I think I am not conservative...
But I certainly can name some of my favorite movies: Lars Van Trier: Melancholia - what an intensity!
Ice Age 2 - I was crying tears at the end from laughing
The Matrix - facinating
Thd death and the maiden: especially seen for the first time
The Hours
Herold and Maude
but I also watch: Desperate Houswives, Sex and the city, The L word. As I said, as entertainment

Regarding books - I do mostly read for my psychology studies and not so much literature. But I got goosebumps while reading 'Stefan Zweig'.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I volunteered at the 'New Life Foundation' in Thailand. While being there I discovered yoga, mindfulness and meditation.

Scuba diving and swimming with sharks in Belize - unforgettable!

Was at gay pride in: New York, Cologne, Vienna, Paris and hope to extend the list. The dyke march in New York is the most amazing - when sameness and diversity happen to be one, something moves for me...

Direct selling 'on the street' and over the phone in New York City - NYC is a tough place - taught by one of the very best sellers in the world (thank you Bob wherever you are, I will never forget your professionalism and kindness)

Worked in a elderly home near London as a 'nurse -assistant' for people with dementia which challenged my views on getting older completely

Ate 'chez' 'Gangiaire' in Paris (was rated 6th on the worlds best restaurants list at the time). I realized, that 'food taste' needs to be developed probably similar like 'wine taste'.

I finally saw the 'Niagara Falls' - it was wet and cold but the power of the spectacular nature - I obviously do not have words for this...

Mahler Symphonie Nr. 2 at the Saint Denis Festival - you do not need any more redemption after that! My soul still sings.

And finally: I saw Tristan and Isolde in Bayreuth in 2012! (after waiting 8 years for tickets)

I sold my flat and almost all of my possessions - followed my dream and moved to San Francisco to study counseling psychology.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am interested in how people live in different cultural settings. I can offer foreign language exchange german/english/french. I would like to improve my spanish.
I like to learn about typical food and spices of any country.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can prepare a meal or help with anything around the house.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Belize, Canada, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States

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