CURRENT MISSION

to soak up all the smiles, beauty, and positive energy and send it right back out...karma baby = P

ABOUT ME

I am wild, spontaneous, goofy, energetic and always up for a random adventure! I was born in Ukraine but raised in the States. International travel is practically an obsession of mine. I spent last summer as the Director of Russian Communications for a non profit relay, and was on tour for 65 days through Russia, Mongolia, Poland, Belarus, China, Japan and then back to the States from Cali to NYC. 6 months later I up and left for Aussie land and New Zealand for study abroad for 3 months. Now that I;ve graduated I embarked on a 7 month trip around the world. I just finished my 2 month in SE ASIA working at an orphanage in Cambodia and traveling..now on to conquer europe! I love to dance ( did competitive ballroom dancing for 10 years = D ) and am an avid painter.

PHILOSOPHY

I think life is too short to regret, to look back, to feel like you gave anything less than your all. So I'm impulsive and a little crazy- but I've never had any complaints. I say, live LOUD be a little WILD and never fear following the "impossible" dream...I prefer to take the road less traveled...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I just heard rave reviews about Couch Surfing from my friends so I wanted to get involved. Having traveled so much, the kindness of total strangers really makes that experience so much more memorable and I would love to return the karma.

Interests

Whipping up an amazing mess in the kitchen, organic food, bikram yoga, latin and hip hop dancing, running, reading novels, painting gifts, researching the next country or experience I want to embark on, family time, girls night out, indie flicks, finding soul soothing music, hiking, kayaking and camping.

• beauty
• dancing
• ballroom dancing
• dining
• cooking
• organic food
• yoga
• running
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• music
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• surfing
• communications
• study abroad

Music, Movies, and Books

Oh man...too many. Hmm...American History X, The Pianist, L'Auberge Espagnol. Books - I am a bit of a history nerd, Kissinger and Nye are awesome. Music - 311, OAR, Puddle of Mud, Lenny K, Justin T, Jack Johnson, Fiona, Alanis, ...kinda ALL over the place here...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Something Amazing that I saw...I was in Russia, on the outskirts in a truly poverty stricken area when a group of little boys, no older than 10 asked to wash our vans for just pennies. I observed as they went down to the river and used the same water to clean our van, as they did to use the bathroom, cook, and drink from. And as heartbreaking as that sight was, they asked where I was from...and when I responded in Russian that I was from America, they looked at me puzzled and asked what America was. Thats when I realized how they likely will never know the answer, because this tiny town is their entire existence, and they wont have the opportunity to become anything they want, because they don't go to school and noone will let them leave. Those boys, I realized, had their whole lives planned out and didnt even know it. They would be farmers just as their parents and grandparents were. And that was the heartbreaking part- that they would never realize their own potential and I felt incredibly priveledged and humbled to live in the USA, where we take everyday opportunities for granted.

I gave each of the boys the remaining dollars I had...and I'll never forget the look in their eyes. They called me ' Mother America' as I got into my newly clean van and headed off for another city.

Teach, Learn, Share

So...I can teach you how to dance! haha...and maybe if you're lucky a Russian lesson too.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Cambodia, Canada, China, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Poland, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, United States

•