Current mission: To live life.

Pryvit! I'm Artem. At the moment I live in a village 10 km from Kyiv https://goo.gl/maps/wV5TyH3UQ14hiwqf7.
I work in NGO. My main focuses are conflict transformation, dialogue, and empathic communication.
I used to be a nomad a few years ago. I was hitchhiking like crazy with my backpack, tent, and trust in human kindness. Not so much vagabonding nowadays, but the free spirit is still inside. I know how to survive on the road in the middle of nowhere and in the wild.

For me, the most important thing while traveling is not the destination, but the way we travel and attitude.
The way I like to travel, whether alone or accompanied, is at my pace, taking time to meet people, taking in the atmosphere of the different places visited, and absorbing and sharing the life of the local inhabitants.

Contact info (just in case):
https://www.facebook.com/artsivak
+380662668648 (Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Belonging to the Couchsurfing tribe for me is one of the ways to create the world I want to live in, the world of unconditional kindness, and willingness to support and help total strangers.
Hosting or surfing always used to be a great experience. I feel joyful meeting people from different cultures, helping them, and being helped by them, just because that's what makes us human.

I prefer to travel with flexible plans or without any plans, that's why sometimes I send copy-paste requests. Nevertheless, usually, I'm very attentive to people I wish to share space with.

Interests

The greatest travel and discoveries happen during meaningful conversations because each human being carries the whole universe inside.
My main interest while traveling is the life stories of people. It is so exciting to know how is it to live there, on the other side of the planet.

• culture
• yoga
• meditation
• traveling
• live music
• hiking
• nature
• nvc
• nonviolent communication
• empathy

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy cartoons like Gravityfalls, Sing, and the Secret life of pets because they help to heal souls and raise awareness. Also funny)

I used to like some movies like Fight Club, Baraka, Into the Wild, Home, Human, 7 years in Tibet, Peaceful Warrior

Last years mostly nonfiction or professional topic books, but when I was vagabonding I used to love "On the road"; "Dharma bumps"Jack Kerouac, "Shantaram" Gregory David Roberts, "The Little Prince" Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Strugatsky brothers books and some of Thor Heyerdahl.

Music depends on season and weather. In the morning it's meditative or indie rock, but then can be different.
Some ambient, Michael Kiwanuka, Black Pumas, Queen, Eddie Vedder, Bon Iver, One Republic, Lumineers, piano instrumental like Ludovico Einaudi, and Brazilian Soul, Christmas jazz and more.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

1. Met my soulmate and keep working on our relationship.
2. Vipassana
3. Bought a one-way ticket to South America and hitchhiked there till I earned money to come back home.
4. A couple of months of hitchhiking around Kenya.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share nonviolent communication tips or help you to solve some of your conflicts :)
I can teach some nice Ukrainian words.
I know some morning yoga and breathing practices.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Usually, I try to bring some small gifts, but if you don't like chocolate or souvenirs just let me know.
In other cases, I'm very keen to cook different vegetarian meals. I can cook vegetables by special receipts or Ukrainian borsch.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, Ukraine