Hello everyone! ✨🌍

I'm spending a semester abroad in Pittsburgh, PA from August 2024 to January 2025. It's my first time outside of Europe, and I'm super excited to meet new people and explore the USA! While I won't be able to host anyone in Vienna during this time, I would love to stay connected for the future.

I’m Hati, 23 years old, and I study Socioeconomics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business in Austria. Socioeconomics is this fascinating mix of economics and sociology - it's about understanding how the economy shapes us and how we shape it. Growing up in a working-class family made me very aware of inequality, which led me to political activism as a teenager. Nowadays, inequality has become one of the main things I focus on academically.

When it comes to hobbies and interests, variety is the spice of life. From cheerleading to acro yoga to competing in video game tournaments, I've tried a little bit of everything. Lately, I've been getting back into film photography and exploring creative writing. Learning an instrument or a new language is also on my bucket list - Turkish is my first choice, but Vietnamese and Japanese are also intriguing. Life sometimes feels too short to experience it all, so I cherish the time I spend with loved ones and other curious, adventurous, and inspiring people.

Being passionate about politics, economics, and sociology makes this semester abroad especially meaningful. It's an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in American culture and learn from the people I meet. Each new perspective broadens my understanding of the world and deepens my appreciation for its diversity. :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is such a fantastic platform to connect with like-minded people who value solidarity, cultural exchange and breaking down prejudices. It's inspiring to see how this community keeps the spirit of hospitality and mutual understanding alive. I really appreciate the general idea of hospitality exchange services - creating opportunities for genuine connection and shared experiences across cultures.

While this may be an unpopular opinion here, I especially appreciate Couchsurfing for making travel more accessible to people from less privileged backgrounds. For someone like me, who grew up in financial poverty and never had a family vacation, Couchsurfing was a game changer. It allowed me to explore the world as a young student, even without financial support or parents who could travel with me. It's not just a free place to stay - it's a way to connect with others, share stories, and learn about new cultures. That said, I firmly believe that Couchsurfing isn't a free hostel alternative. It should be for people who really want to connect with others and immerse themselves in different cultures.

Personally, I love being a traveler rather than a tourist. Meeting new people, learning about other cultures and making meaningful connections is what motivates me. I'm not interested in escaping life with a two-week all-inclusive beach vacation (although no judgment if that's your thing!)-I want to experience the world in a way that's rich, authentic, and full of human connection. If you feel the same way or have thoughts on the subject, I'd love to chat and hear your perspective!

Interests

interests: anime, concerts, economics, political activism, sociology, video games (currently playing disco elysium and used to play competetive ssbu), weightlifting, yoga

• photography
• concerts
• festivals
• fitness
• politics
• traveling
• sports
• history
• feminism

Music, Movies, and Books

🎵 I like a lot of different music lol. You can find me at alternative and emo concerts, but also at DnB raves, goa festivals or in a jazz, blues or soul bar :) I always appreciate new music recommendations!

📖 I am either reading non-fiction books or young adult romance novels. My current reads are 'Not in Love' by Ali Hazelwood and 'After Piketty: The Agenda for Economics and Inequality', edited by Heather Boushey, J. Bradford DeLong, and Marshall Steinbaum. I think that explains it all.

🎥 Lately I have been getting more involved in movies, especially New Hollywood. My current favorite movies are 'A Woman Under the Influence' by John Cassavetes and 'Annie Hall' by Woody Allen. Other movies I really enjoyed were 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan and 'Perfect Blue' by Satoshi Kon.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Moving to Vienna alone during COVID and building a social network with the most amazing friends there all by myself after graduating from high school.

Teach, Learn, Share

- I could give you a short lecture on German and Austrian Politics 101 from a socio-economic perspective.
- I can also show you how to open a beer anywhere without a bottle opener (the first thing Germans learn when they grow up).

What I Can Share with Hosts

I’ll share my sweets, my wine, random history trivia and funny anecdotes with you. :')

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Germany, United States