CV:Helena Maria or Elle, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her parents immigrated from Colombia, South America and Hamburg, Germany and first moved to New York. Her mother was a labor law attorney in Cartagena, Colombia and her father left Germany during World War II.

She is an experienced employee benefits consultant, in the Insurance industry and was a Vice President and consultant for some of the world’s largest insurance brokerage firm in the US. She has provided marketing and collateral materials for MetLife, Prudential, Willis and Wells Fargo and has assisted her Fortune 100 clients with communication materials, to enhance their Employee Benefit Programs.

Outside of work, her prose and writing style speaks to a different audience. Her writings provide insights and observations that are raw and provocative.

She holds a BS in biochemistry and a minor in English from the University of California, Los Angeles in Biochemistry and a minor in English. In college, she was an accomplished athlete, dancer and started competing in indoor rock climbing. Her passions are travel, reading, writing, poetry, and photography.

She has lived in Los Angeles, New York and Miami and recently moved to Lima, Peru to experience her South American heritage and culture. She resides in the beautiful beach and artistic community of Barranco, Peru.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Plan do a little travel in South America before moving to Europe

Interests

• salsa dancing
• running
• music
• rock climbing
• journalism
• writer
• sales
• street photography
• reading novels
• writing poetry

Music, Movies, and Books

All music, all books except sci-fi, various film genres

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Being a mother

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach or share marketing, insurance, sales, organizational behavior, business management, business, contracts, English, tours, hospitality service, sports, some construction, residential interior design,

What I Can Share with Hosts

Teach or share marketing, insurance, sales, organizational behavior, business management, business, contracts, English, tours, hospitality service, sports, some construction, residential interior design,

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Peru, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany