I am a graduate of Environmental Design at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. I work as a Sales Associate at Michaels, an arts and crafts store but does more than that. I host birthday parties and events for kids and occasionally teach classes about drawing and how to use art markers. But those don't really matter. I like to travel to as much places as I can while I'm still a 25-year-old. Time is gold and I wanted to meet as many friends in other countries as I can before it is too late.

During my spare time, if I have any, I draw, make maps and take photos. I don't usually share a lot of photos on the internet, but in case you are curious, my Instagram handle is @carl.sotomil but I rarely update that one because I felt the burnout. I have been trying to get out of burnout and prepare for the next chapter for my life and I find that passion in travelling around the world and experience living like a local.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I had been checking Couch Surfing for a while now and this time I want to give this one a whirl. I think I had waited over 3 years for this after my friend stayed in Tokyo (no longer active) using CS.

I've met a lot of people from around the world, with each of them giving insight on their culture and some quirks that you won't see anywhere else.

Interests

• architecture
• photography
• drawing
• hiking
• geography
• landscape architecture
• landscapes
• landscape photography

Music, Movies, and Books

Music? Any music that you can throw me. Lately it's been Italian Hip-hop, but I listened to Dutch music and especially Japanese music. I wind down with jazz and classical music and pump my energy using hip-hop, electronica, and pop. I like to sing Señorita by Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello at work for comedic reasons.

Movies? I don't really have any favourite movies, but the ones that I can laugh at are the best. I used to dislike horror but studying cinematography during arch school really opened my eyes with that.

TV Shows? Avatar the Last Airbender. Hands down one of the best stories told out there.

Books? Probably Holes by Louis Sachar. Also Don Quixote by Cervantes. Not really into fiction until recently, when I started reading Fyodor Dostoevsky and Margaret Atwood.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've travelled from Kagoshima to Hokkaido by train. I thought it was not a big achievement overall since I was using a Japan Rail Pass but my Japanese friends said that they have not been into places that I went to., such as Kagoshima, a place that literally sits on the foot of a volcano, and Hakodate, known for its seafood.

I survived architecture school! I don't know if that counts.

Teach, Learn, Share

Languages - I find it really funny when people's first questions when you visit them is "what are some swear words on your language?"

Travel Stories - everyone wants a near-death experience, no?

Cultural Exchange.

What I Can Share with Hosts

How to read maps like a champ! I did not realize it at first, but when the entire school group got lost at the Paris Metro, I was able to alert my professors that we were going in the wrong direction. For the rest of the trip, I was handling everyone's tickets and making sure that they are not lost by the end of the day.

I can share the quirks of Canadian and Filipino cultures, such as holding the door open for the next person and saying "sorry" all the time.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, Philippines, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Philippines