Hey,

I am Cenk Bonfil, a 25-year old musician from Istanbul, Turkey.

Though I have studied media, music and travelling are two of my passions. So I'm just trying to find my way around by making and teaching music in Istanbul, meanwhile doing a master's in music composition.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am on Couchsurfing because I think that it is a sincere and safe platform to get to know people from all these different places. I think that this platform is great for getting people to do something good -like hosting others for free that one does not know at all- and it expects people to trust each other which would make the world a lot better place.

Interests

I have been playing the piano since I was ten - if I am not mistaken. For me, music is a discipline that gives you a great perspective of perceiving the world, make you think in a sort of way and it can definitely be learnt!

Other than music, I read novels, articles that interest me, watch films, I think, try to learn and understand. I dream about hitting the roads for a long time. (I know that only dreaming does no good but I feel I am getting closer to make it real) and love to chat with my friends or family along with a cup of coffee, tea or a bottle of beer.

Music, Movies, and Books

Although I find it hard -impossible maybe- to pick only one favorite book/music/movie; I love Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, Lion King is one of very few movies that can make me cry, novel series of Harry Potter really affects me, ABBA is the band that made me start listening to music properly and Queen gave me a whole different perpective of making music. For the last couple of years, I learn music all over again while studying jazz!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Wandering in the streets of Amsterdam with my friend from university, trying to eat a hamburger that we got from a street food seller and getting all our hands dirty while doing that, laughing drastically meanwhile, without a certain reason.

Starting to learn how to play piano.

Going to London as an Erasmus student.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you some basic dishes from Turkish cuisine, I can teach you how daily life runs in Turkish culture and I can give you a unique perspective of being a religious minority in Turkey.

I'd love to learn how daily life runs in your local culture and some basic language skills maybe.

I can obviously share my home and food, also a nice city tour that would cover not only touristic sights but the places that a local would go. A nice dinner, some drinks (dinner and drinks, Turkish style if you'd like) while having a nice conversation and listening to good music.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share some basic Turkish foods/drinks, an inside perspective of Turkish people, minorities in there, how they live, their culture, etc., a hosting (or at least only guiding) in Istanbul as a return and a nice chat.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, China, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom