Hi there!

First and foremost - please do read My Home section to make sure it works for you as everyone is different and I want you to be comfortable here.

My name is Yelena and I was born in Moscow, Russia and at 14 years old my dad moved the whole family over to US. So since 1997 we have lived here in the Washington DC area. I speak Russian and English fluently, but still consider myself more Russian than American despite having lived more than half of my life in US. Never forget your roots! =)
I have 2 younger twin brothers and 2 cats. Cats live with me but brothers don't =)
I am not a home or couch bum. I need to be outside exploring the world and doing things. I am an Arts Major but work in Information Technology field as a Project Manager - I find these two aspects work together really well!
I love wine and Belgian beer, especially the sour cherry kind, yum! I do not drink Vodka, I know, very un-stereotypical for a Russian, sorry...
I love to cook and try new cuisines and dishes. I play guitar a little and sing - there is nothing like sitting around a campfire at night and playing guitars and singing with friends... music keeps your soul young and flourishing.
I do power vinyasa yoga in a heated studio. The mind body connection that yoga creates is priceless.
I love music and dancing. I prefer to get around new places on foot so I can truly explore them.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am Couchsurfing because next year I want to take a year off work and travel around the world through Couchsurfing. So I am trying to take a few smaller trips before that to get a hang of this lifestyle which I think is a super awesome most brilliant way to travel and the only way traveling should ever be done! =)

Interests

So I listed a few in the About Me section already.
Wine, Belgian beer, guitar, singing, campfires, camping, hiking, power vinyasa yoga, biking, reading, cooking, food, new cultures and countries, new places, the WORLD!!! =))))

• cats
• arts
• singing
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• yoga
• drinking
• technology
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• cycling
• hiking
• camping

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen primarily to rock, dance, pop and lounge music - both Russian and English. I do not like Rap or Country music. I feel like they whine and complain way too much!
Lyrics are important, my brain does not work otherwise =)

Some of my favourite books and authors:
Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
anything by Boris Akunin, especially the Diamond Chariot
anything by Paulo Coelho, especially Brida, The Zahir, The Witch of Portobello, the Pilgrimage and The Alchemist
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
Kingdom of Wishes by Judith McNaught
The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Mayer - because in our day and age we truly forgot what a courtship between a man and a woman should look like, and the appropriate language we should be speaking

Movies: Amelie, Casanova, Fall (1997), Closer, Lost in Translation, Sex and Lucia, Love Actually, New Years Eve, Up (cartoon)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I got laid off from work a few years back and decided that this was the perfect opportunity the universe was presenting to me for traveling for a few months instead of looking for another job right away. So. I spent 3 months in South East Asia. Came back to US and found a job in 2 months. But this trip left so much impression on me, about true and superficial values in life that we all have, that I have since got an idea to take a whole year off work for traveling!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can help you with Russian or English if you are interested. I can teach you to cook anything I know if you like, yes, this will include Russian food as well.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My language knowledge (Russian, English), travel experiences from various countries and advice, how to cook Russian food, power vinyasa yoga flow.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Russian Federation, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, Russian Federation, United States