Welcome fellow Couchsurfers!
*I'm currently travelling so I will not be able to host at the moment... but as soon as I swap the tent for an actual house - you are welcome to stay!*

My name is Ania, I come from a tiny village in Southeast Poland (yes, about 200 people live here, that's how small it is :-) )

I have always been fond of travelling, in fact I have moved away from home when I was just 19 years old. I spent 8 years living in Scotland, enjoying occasional trips and holidays while developing a career. But after staying in one place for so long, feeding my wanderlust in small doses I have decided it was time to make some changes. I think when a person stays in one place for too long, they get comfortable, complacent and stop growing.

I decided this was the time to quit my job, which I enjoyed very much and challenge myself in a new, exciting way. I have decided to catch the opportunity, I had nothing standing in my way!
And so I moved out of my flat, I packed my things into boxes, some things I sold and gave away the rest. I didn't want to have lots of stuff anymore, I felt it was limiting me. I wanted to feel what it's like not to be dependent on things.

So I boarded a plane to Bangkok with just a small backpack and went on an adventure! Now, in perspective, I know it has changed everything. My life took a really big turn the moment I boarded that plane and went a totally uknown, unpaved road with many crossroads ahead.
And no signs. I mean, I had to learn how to look for them. ☮️🔛

👍And that's for example, how I ended up living in Cambodia for 7 months, working on different projects including making and selling my very own polish pierogi (if you don't know what it is, you haven't lived 🥟).
👍Tried hitchhiking for the first time in my life nowhere else but in Vietnam, where local people have no idea why would anyone travel this way.
👍I spent a Tet holiday (Vietnamese New Year) with my former Couchsurfing guest, bought a motorbike and rode it through Ho Chi Minh trail all by myself. Now thinking about it... I would buy a bigger bike :D
👍I travelled for a few months with my younger brother where we got lost in Kazakh steps, hitchhiked in Kyrgyzstan or worked in a French vineyard together.

Safe to say I like adventures!

It's now been almost 3 years and do I regret the decision? Hell, NO! Am I happier now? It's hard to say, but I do know that this trip and what followed next have changed the way I think, the way I feel and understand our world. And for that I'm grateful. 🙏

Now I'm at the start of my biggest adventure yet and moving even further across the globe... to New Zealand!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love the idea of Couchsurfing, in fact I believe that the greatest experiences in life are those you don't actually have to spend money on. I hope to create more of those meaningful memories by both hosting and traveling in the same way.

Interests

Bikes are my passion. Casual cycling, mountain biking, long distance riding. I'm crazy about bikes.
Cycle to work, uphill or in rain every day? No problem.
Cycle 40k in 40 degree heat? Sure, wanna join?
Love moving from A to B with wind in my hair.
Love even more when I don't know where B actually is.
I like to read, I like to paint and love nature. I feed of the energy it gives us. 🍀
I can stare at a nice view for hours instead of watching TV.
Wanna go for a walk?
I like walking, when I don't have my bike, I walk everywhere.
Camping? Sure thing!
Hitchhiking?
Thumbs up! 👍

• music festivals
• running
• live music
• cycling
• camping
• scuba diving
• volleyball
• hitchhiking
• mountain biking
• trekking
• painting and drawing

Music, Movies, and Books

Open to almost any kind of music.
One of the best things about travelling is discovering new types of music and being able to share.
Love music I can dance to, music I can chill to and music that motivates me to get up and go.
Live music? Yes please!
I get goosebumps litlening to music, I'm the sensitive type.

Oh, and Stephen King was my favourite author when growing up, the master of suspense.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I think the most amazing thing I've done (purely because it was the scariest at the time and it has changed my perspective) was to make my first dream come true and travel to Australia during a sabbatical leave (little did I know 2 years later I will be quitting my job to travel full time!).
I travelled solo for almost 6 weeks and once I returned I knew, that if I can do this, I can do anything I want.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have spent last 8 years working in fast paced environment, being responsible for others and I hope my problem solving skills can be put to a good use. I'm a natural problem solver, I look for solutions and ways to make things better.

One of the things I did in my last job and I took great satisfaction in, is looking after others' development. I have helped to train people and coach them through their journeys. There is nothing more satisfying then seeing smile on someone's' face when they make progress and knowing you made an impact!

I can give many tips on traveling around Southeast Asia and hitchhiking your way through many countries.

I'm learning more about practicing meditation and yoga. Would be very happy to practice together. 😊

What I Can Share with Hosts

I normally offer to buy groceries and cook up some yummy meals to share as it's one of the things I take a real pleasure to do. I will help around the house, clean up and offer my company to spend time in a constructive way. I like to exchange languages, learn to play guitar, teach to draw or paint.
If you don't want to do anything from above, I offer you some peace and I can happily do things on my own✌️

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, Poland, Scotland