Hey there!

I'm Giovanni, an 18-year-old student hailing from the beautiful country of Italy. 🇮🇹

I recently graduated with honours from my local high school, where I served in the students' committee as one of the leading members. Now, I'm studying computer engineering at university in Turin. 🎓

This summer, I embarked on a long solo journey through central and northern Europe, racking up almost 11.000 km through 10 different countries.
That's because I won an Interrail pass with DiscoverEU, a project part of the wider Erasmus+. 🇪🇺

As I came back home, the national youth agency in Italy chose me as an ambassador for the program.
Now, I proudly advocate through social media and online webinars for young people to travel and explore diverse cultures, different from the one of their home country. I also like to inform others on the many opportunities available to young people thanks to the EU.

Meeting new people and learning about their unique backgrounds is my jam! 🌍 I'm fluent in English, so communication won't be an issue, and I've got experience in public speaking.

To all you amazing folks out there who will be kind enough to host me along my travels, a huge thank you in advance!
On a serious note, I'm a neat and tidy individual who doesn't mind lending a hand with basic household chores. I'm a non-smoker with zero allergies. Plus, I'm cool with pets and kids.

Although I wouldn't call myself an experienced Couchsurfer, I think I get the spirit pretty well and I know how to make the most of the time with my hosts.
I'm not just looking for a free place to sleep, but I actively challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and meet people from all kinds of backgrounds.
I'm super easygoing and open-minded, and I'm eager to share my culture and spend quality time with you. 😊

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I joined Couchsurfing as I embarked on my exciting European adventure.

My aim was to visit cities not like an average tourist would, but to meet locals, dive into their culture, and swap amazing stories.
Couchsurfing was (and still is!) the perfect answer.

Looking back at my trip, the moments I cherish the most are those shared with the quirky and unique people kind enough to host me: the chance to be welcomed into someone's home and the feeling of being (even if for only a brief period) part of a new family; sharing stories and having late-night chats with the people who live and breathe the city I'm exploring.
Those are truly unforgettable memories. 📌

Interests

• culture
• books
• photography
• traveling
• hiking
• computer science
• history
• sightseeing
• nature
• outdoors
• programming
• virtual reality
• video editing
• interesting people

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Casually applying to DiscoverEU 🇪🇺, not knowing I'd be selected and blessed with what would come after.

Whilst the application was easy, what was truly crazy was setting off for the journey of a lifetime.

18 years old and with a backpack full of dreams (and clothes, lots of them! 😅) I left the comfort of home to embark on a journey that would take me through more than 10.000 km to 10 European countries: from the French countryside to the Dutch cities, from Copenhagen's canals to Dublin's coast, and so much more...

I left the cosiness of my own bed to alternate sleeping in hostels and Couchsurfing, as well as in night trains. I even slept in Oslo airport, before taking my first ever flight.

I truly went as far outside my comfort zone as I could and, in hindsight, this whole experience really payed out: I truly feel enlightened by the many different cultures I had the chance to meet, I now am confident in my own ability to cope with environments foreign to my own.
Most importantly, though, I look back and I'm proud to have met so many amazing people.

The friendships and the memories I take with me are the best souvenir I could have asked for. 🥺

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can bring a rich exchange of stories, culture, and quirky habits. I'm here to bring a burst of Italian charm and a helping hand with household chores. 😁

From dogsitting to cleaning, I've always tried to do my fair share of assistance to my hosts. I am always very grateful for the accommodation and I feel like I have to give back somehow.

I often like to cook for/with my hosts, whether it's a simple breakfast or a more complicated dinner. 🍝
Although I do understand that some people don't like to have anyone touch the kitchen but themselves. If that's the case, I find that having a calm conversation over a beer or some tea/coffee is still a nice and peaceful way to spend our time together.

Plus, would you fancy learning a bit of Italian? I'll teach you the essentials, from charming phrases to mastering that perfect Italian hand gesture. 🤌

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy