I have a very mixed identity, being Kazakh by ethnicity, but growing up in rural Russia and then moving to Saint-Petersburg to study. My family taught me to appreciate family ties and always go back to the roots; my rural life experience taught me to appreciate small things in life and be grateful for what we have; my life in Saint-Petersburg showed that the world is full of opportunities and only the sky is the limit. It's pretty obvious to say that I love traveling and meeting new people, but it is true. I want to meet more people like me, with the same mindset and interests, but also those who can show me a different perspective of things and help me understand unfamiliar to me cultures.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I think Couchsurfing opens the doors that were previously unavailable to young people like me. Traveling for cheap, but also meeting interesting like-minded people and experiencing a bit of "local" lifestyle.

Interests

I am a teacher, and so my interests lie within the profession, ranging from psychology to teaching methods and bla-bla-bla. I love watching TV-series and reading.

• arts
• education
• traveling

Music, Movies, and Books

My music interests are quite different, but I especially like Indie Rock music, such bands as The Shins, Broken Bells, Arctic Monkeys, The Neighborhood, Hozier. My favorite movie is "Cloud Atlas". Favorite book for any time - "Harry Potter". I also love Russian Classical novels. And I really like reading dystopias.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Went on a day trip to Brugge with a totally random person I met on the street - had one of the best days of my life :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can tell you all about Russia and life there, but we don't have to talk about it either. Talking about random interesting things is absolutely fine with me. I think in a conversation there shouldn't be any particular limits.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Talking, laughing and goofing around :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Estonia, Russian Federation, United States