Hey there! My name is Bartek, and I'm a 20-year-old adventurer 🚵‍♀️ That would pretty much be the shortest way I could describe myself. Want the longer version? Okay! You asked for it 😅

I've always loved budget traveling. I believe it's the purest form of experiencing a place to the limit. Plus, it allows everyone to experience different cultures, meet new people and try new things. And what better way is there to understand the world than by exploring it? 😊

In everyday life, I'm a gap-year kid. But because my parents were not really keen on the idea of me skipping college, I had to start a business to pay my bills. For the past few years, I had already been working as a freelance graphic designer, but now I also started tutoring English to some kids in my hometown (it's one of the most fulfilling things I've done, by the way). 😃

Apart from that, I'm a scouting team leader, which takes up a big chunk of my time. 🏕 I'm in charge of a team of about 30 young boys, who come from all walks of life. With my work in the team, I try to teach them the skills that are absolutely indispensable in the modern world. 🎖 I organize 4-week summer camps that are financially available for literally any kid that would join our team, but at the same time are packed with attractions and activities that they'd normally have to pay way more for. All that work I do completely for free. I truly believe it's changing the world for the better. And that is all the payment I need. ⚜️

Oh, did I mention I'm also a wannabe YouTuber? 😃 That's right, in the little free time that I have I love creating videos that perhaps could help some young people find their path and live their best lives. You can check out my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/bartekmalinowski

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Whenever I visit a new place or revisit somewhere that's outside of my hometown, my main effort is to experience as much of the local culture as possible. That includes people. 😃 I love meeting locals, interacting with them, listening to their stories, taking their recommendations... I try to stay away from tourist traps, and instead, always look for spots where the locals hang out.

I've also spent quite a few nights total at locals' houses, outside of Couchsurfing, and that were all the most memorable trips I had. 😊 I'm here to explore new stories, discover new perspectives, and meet incredible, inspiring people.

Interests

• photography
• hiking
• travel
• filmmaking
• adventure
• creativity
• local food
• scouting
• self development

Music, Movies, and Books

Okay, I have to be honest. I'm not the most culturally-knowledgeable person I know (though definitely not the least, either) 😅 Throughout my life, I was somehow drawn to alternative music, like Lana Del Rey (Honeymoon era especially), The Smiths, Florence and The Machine, David Bowie but recently also some polish music, which is a surprise 😜 I also love classic rock (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, now also Coldplay) and all the pop that played when I was growing up (2000's and 2010's) 🤣

As for movies, phew, that one is difficult. That seems a bit off, but one of the first things that pops to mind is "Notting Hill", I just wish I could be as smooth as Hugh Grant in it 😅 I also love various franchises, namely James Bond, the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Back to the Future. As a kid I was always really into action movies. I'd like to catch up on some of the more ambitious cinema in the forseeable future 😃

My favorite book is probably Catcher in the Rye. I don't exactly know why, probably because it felt really relatable when I first read it, plus it was the book that really started my love for reading. Recently I found I really love re-reading Harry Potter books, too 😁

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've cycled through France and Spain on the Camino the Santiago with no plan and almost no money whatsoever. Together with two of my friends, I went on an adventure of a lifetime right after we finished high school. Sleeping at strangers' houses we've met countless incredible people along the way.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom