Couchsurfing

I've heard about couchsurfing but never considered before. I always preferred to pay for privacy and comfort and do my thing when traveling. What I didn't know was that couchsurfing wasn't about saving money on accommodation, but actually much more about sharing - they share their house, their space, their knowledge, and you share you, your experience, your dreams, your ideas. 

Before heading to Puerto Rico, I've decided to spend 5 days in New York but wanted to keep it on a low budget. I was a bit reluctant to try couchsurfing and do something risky like this. Let's face it - staying on a stranger couch with nice reviews but who's this person? Why do they do this and what do they want in exchange of giving free accomodation? Is this like a facilitated Tinder - "the cute girl is already sleeping on my couch and she should be grateful, let me try". Or could be a easy way for psychopaths/Catfish - not that impossible to make up a profile and pretend you're a nice person. I might have an easy imagination, but all those things were in my mind before I tried.

I've decided to give it a go, but I've taken some steps to help me feel more comfortable. Reached out to my network for opinions about the platform, learned how to approach and choose hosts, shared all the info with my friends, meet up in a public space. But I was still a little nervous, and yet excited about it.

What I thought was me leaving my comfort zone and being brave, became one of the richest experiences I've had. I was so so so so lucky with my first host - Shantanu, in Jersey City, for 5 full days.

What could have been "just another tick on big cities list that I've visited" with free accomodation, became a 5 days holidays with a friend. From minute one, we clicked, we laughed and we shared a million stories.

There's many personal ways to approach couchsurfing, everyone is different after all. But I was lucky to have a psychopath with a nice heart 😁 Shantanu not only opened his doors to me (even when he was working he let me stay there to sleep longer), but took me to his hobbies (Painting class, ping pong meet up) and joined me for mine (dancing, running, handstanding), introduced me to his friends and made new ones through me, shared his food and treated me on many different activities and meals out. We had long talks about life, on his rooftop, on his couch, at the train, everywhere in the city. We played board games and never got bored or run out of topics to talk about. We went dancing, running, we randomly danced Bollywood on the streets, and did handstands on the top of Brooklyn bridge. Watched Superbowl whilst bar hoping in the Upper East Side of New York and ate noodles at very late night cooked by Shantanu.

I tried to contribute and be grateful for everything he was doing for me, and tried to be a nice guest too. But the heart of a couchsurfing host like this is in the very right place - sharing without expecting anything back. The world needs more people like this. Kudos to all Shantanus out there 🤗 and thank you million times to my very own Shantanu for the best days I could ever have in New York.

I tried couchsurfing and I gained a friend. ♥️

One Way Ticket Latin America Dance & Yoga Trip

To keep it simple: one day I quit my job and decided to spend the next few months dancing salsa and doing handstands at the beach on a self discovery solo trip around central America until the budget is over. 

I have a draft idea to explore Puerto Rico (the starting point), Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, maybe Colombia and others that I might decide to.

Whether this is happening this way, or all changes completely; or if it takes 1 month or 6 months, I don't know - I'll let it go with the flow and see what feels better doing next.

It is my first time...

* Not having a plan

* Traveling alone

* Backpacking

* Couchsurfing and staying at hostels

... and I am so looking forward to all I'll learn about myself and the world with this experience.

What I want from this trip:

* Dance, dance, dance, dance

* Do lots of handstands and yoga stuff around the world

* Live a more minimalist life with less and appreciate more things

* Learn how to stop, breathe, rest, enjoy, appreciate, look, listen

* Learn more about myself and the world itself

* Get to know new amazing and interesting people

* Explore the world and learn the local way of living wherever I go

* Working/volunteering to the communities where I'll be staying when possible

* Challenge my way of thinking, feeling and doing things

* Leave my comfort zone and experience new things

* Write more (blog included)

* Develop and discover new skills

* Maybe learn how to surf and other activities

* Get tanned and speak Spanish everyday :D

The adventure starts today 30th of January 2020: finished my packing where I had to fit all I need for the next few months (the worst part for me, if you know me this is a nightmare). And heading to the airport for my flight to NY (a long transit of 5 days before heading to Puerto Rico) where I'm going to couchsurf for the first time!

Whatever happens after, who knows. Let the adventure begin!

I have an Instagram where I'll be sharing the adventures @littlemaryaroundtheworld from my favourite perspective -> upsidedown and dancing <- follow me if you're curious.

December gratitude #5 Carlos & Michelle

I live with these two and I don't have enough words to describe it. I was against house sharing, let alone with a couple and even worst when I already like them - recipe for ending a good friendship. Only to then turning into a safe place to call home - a family.

I want to thank them for teaching me about unselfish love and prioritization.

Unselfish Love - They expect nothing and appreciate everything. What they do to give me love and comfort, I'll never be able to express in words how much I appreciate it - and they never expect anything back. They give me a home that makes it too difficult to make another move. Thanks to them I have a place where I can be my self, my truly self, no holding backs and feel appreciated, safe, happy, or sad - because here I can feel whatever I need to feel.

Prioritization - They work +12h/6days a week and they still find time to nourish their love for each other, to have energy to attract people and friends to their lives, have some hobbies and travels and smile all the time - without complaining (too much :p ). This because they know their priorities, they rule by it but they leave space for integrity that allows them to judge when being a friend or an individual is needed too.

And if I'm fun... Oh these two top it up by far! Everyone should have a Michelle and Carlos in their lives! ❤
Thank you, thank you, thank you - this home is the true meaning of "friends are the family your heart chooses"
I love you like crazy, more than I-C-E-C-R-E-A-M! ❤

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(PT)
Eu moro com estes dois e não tenho palavras suficientes para descrever. Eu era contra partilhar casa, muito menos com um casal e pior ainda quando eu já gosto deles - receita para acabar com uma boa amizade. Tudo para depois se transformar num lugar seguro que chamo de lar - uma família.

Quero agradecer-lhes por me ensinarem sobre amor altruísta e prioridades.

Amor altruísta - Eles não esperam nada e apreciam tudo. O que eles fazem para me dar amor e conforto, eu nunca serei capaz de expressar em palavras o quanto eu estou agradecida - e eles nunca esperam nada de volta. Eles me dão uma casa que torna muito difícil mudar de novo. Graças a eles, tenho um lugar onde posso ser eu mesma, o meu eu verdadeiro, não me fazem ser menos eu e fazem sempre sentir-me apreciada, segura, feliz ou triste - porque aqui posso sentir o que preciso de sentir.

Prioridades - Eles trabalham + 12h / 6dias por semana e ainda encontram tempo para nutrir o seu amor um pelo outro, ter energia para atrair pessoas e amigos para as suas vidas, ter alguns hobbies e viagens e sorrir o tempo todo - sem reclamar (muito :p). Isto porque eles conhecem as suas prioridades, seguem-nas, mas eles deixam espaço para a integridade que lhes permite julgar quando ser amigo, ou um ser indivídal, é necessário também.

E se eu sou divertida ... Oh, estes dois são mais de longe! Todos deveriamos ter uma Michelle e Carlos em suas vidas! ❤

Obrigado, obrigado, obrigado - esta casa é o verdadeiro significado de "amigos são a família que o coração escolhe" ❤

Eu vos amo como louca, mais do que G-E-L-A-D-O! ❤

December gratitude #4 Jorge & Sebastião

The men of my life. My male role models. My core. My brothers. 

They taught me a lot about knowing what you want and fight for it. They are not living dreaming lives, they are building their dreams. They have vision, passion and determination, and they create the means to it. And I admire them so much for that.

They are nowadays the reason I still believe in respect and love. When I feel that my faith in men/love is gone, I think how these two teach me so much about fairy tales, genuine love and affection. With them I also learned about socializing and adjusting, they can fit in any environment, context and find something interesting to talk about. And plus, they are fun (-ish lol) :P They can always make me smile and laugh.

They don't give me fluffy words - that's not what brothers do - they tell me what I need to hear, and then they listen when I need to talk. Because caring is not spoiling you, is helping you growing.

So proud to be your sister! 

Thanks for keeping me believing and for always being there for me, even when you annoy me :D 

By the way, aren't them handsome? ❤

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(PT)
Os homens da minha vida. Os meus exemplos do sexo masculino. O meu núcleo. Os meus irmãos.

Eles me ensinaram muito sobre lutar pelo que queremos. Eles não estão a viver vidas de sonho, estão a construir os seus sonhos. Eles têm visão, paixão e determinação, e criam os meios para isso. E eu admiro-os muito por isso.

Hoje em dia, eles são a razão pela qual eu ainda acredito em respeito e amor. Quando sinto que a minha fé nos homens / amor se está a acabar, penso em como estes dois me ensinam muito sobre contos de fadas, amor e afeição genuína. Com eles eu também aprendi sobre socializar e ajustar, eles podem encaixar-se em qualquer ambiente, contexto e encontrar algo interessante para falar. E mais, eles são divertidos (mais ou menos  lol) :P Eles sempre me fazem sorrir e rir.

Eles não me dão palavras fofas - não é isso que os irmãos fazem - eles dizem-me o que eu preciso de ouvir, e depois eles ouvem quando eu preciso de falar. Porque cuidar não é mimar, é ajudar-te a crescer.

Tão orgulhosa de ser vossa irmã!

Obrigado por me fazerem acreditar e por estarem sempre  lá por mim, mesmo quando vocês me irritam :D

By the way, eles não são bonitos? ❤

December Gratitude #3 Avó Milú

My grandma is undoubtedly the one from who I inherited the passion for living. 

This 84 years old woman saw 3 of her grandchildren moving abroad and only took it as an opportunity to learn about technology (yes she skypes, has Facebook and plays angry birds 😂) and to travel more. When I have doubts about life changing decisions she is the one encouraging me "go for it, it will be fine. If not, it's an adventure". She tells me often "go and shake your bunda, I know it makes you happy" and sometimes asks to go with me - and she knows how to move! And lots of other inappropriate advises/questions that I'll have to keep for myself 🤦

I'm talking about a woman who knows too well about loss and grieve, and has never lost her ability to live life the fullest. 

This world needs more of Avó Milú, love you to bits ❤

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(PT)
A minha avó é, sem dúvida, aquela de quem eu herdei a paixão pela vida.

Esta mulher de 84 anos viu os seus 3 netos a mudarem-se para o estrangeiro e só a aproveitou isso como uma oportunidade para aprender sobre tecnologia (sim, ela faz skype, tem Facebook e joga  angry birds 😂) e para viajar mais. Quando tenho dúvidas sobre decisões de vida, ela é quem me incentiva sempre "vai em frente, vai ficar tudo bem. Se não, foi uma aventura". Ela diz muitas vezes "vai dar ao rabo prá Kizomba, eu sei que te faz feliz" e às vezes até pede para ir comigo - e ela sabe como se mover! E muitos outros conselhos / perguntas inapropriadas que terei de guardar para mim 🤦

Estou a falar de uma mulher que sabe muito sobre perda e luto, e nunca perdeu a sua capacidade de viver a vida ao máximo.

Esse mundo precisa de mais Avó Milú, amo-te em todos os bocadinhos ❤

December gratitude #2 myself

THANK YOU my dear self, you're doing great.

If there's one thing in life I can't go without, I can't have a break from, about what I can't give up, with who I have to deal everyday - it's me. I've wasted so many years wishing I was more this or less that, and being sorry for not being something else. It doesn't happen every day, but happens more days than it should. But the truth is, being me was the best thing that could happen to me. I'm proud of the person that I am, the values I carry, the energy that I share, the fun I have with myself and the grounds that I stand for.

Those who know me well, know how awkwardly uncomfortable I get with compliments, but how easily I compliment others. So today my compliment will be my gratitude for myself: Maria, your smile brightens up my everyday :)

❤ Sending self-love energies to everyone ❤

Note/question to self: interesting how this was the gratitude post that I hesitate the most before writing?

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(PT)
OBRIGADO meu querido eu, estás a ir muito bem.

Se há uma coisa na vida que eu não posso deixar de lado, não posso fazer uma pausa, sobre a qual não posso desistir, com quem tenho que lidar todos os dias - sou eu. Já perdi tantos anos a desejar ser mais isto ou menos aquilo, e lamentando por não ser outra coisa. Isso não acontece todos os dias, mas acontece mais dias do que deveria. Mas a verdade é que ser eu mesma foi a melhor coisa que me poderia ter acontecido. Tenho orgulho da pessoa que sou, dos valores que carrego, da energia que compartilho, da alegria que tenho comigo e dos causas que defendo.

Aqueles que me conhecem bem, sabem o quão desconfortável eu fico com elogios, mas com que facilidade eu elogio os outros. Então, hoje meu elogio será a minha gratidão por mim: Maria, o teu sorriso ilumina o meu dia-a-dia :)

❤ Enviando energias de amor próprio a todos ❤

Nota / pergunta para a mim mesma: interessante como este foi o post de gratidão que eu mais hesitei antes de escrever.

December Gratitude #1 my mum

I want to take this month to celebrate people, situations and moments that I'm grateful for having in my life.

This couldn't go without starting with my very first love - Paula Alpuim.

Thank you for being love, for teaching me about caring, giving and dedication. I learned with you that no matter what, everything we go through is meant to be and to lead us to where we should go/be - to take chances without regrets but without stepping on anyone's feet. No one cares about others like you do. 

My love for you is endless ❤

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(PT)
Dezembro da Gratidão # 1 mãe!

Eu quero aproveitar este mês para celebrar pessoas, situações e momentos que eu sou grata por ter na minha vida.

Isto não poderia acontecer sem o meu primeiro amor - Paula Alpuim.

Obrigado por seres amor, por me ensinares sobre carinho, generosidade e dedicação. Eu aprendi contigo que não importa o quê, tudo pelo que passamos é para nos levar para onde devemos ir - arriscar sem arrependimentos, mas sem pisar os pés de ninguém. 
Ninguém se importa com os outros como tu. 

O meu amor por ti é infinito ❤