Hi, my name is Irena, I've had this account since 2014 but I just started using it in 2018. I obviously like to travel, but sometimes I used to be kind of shy about it.

I am Polish, I also used to live in Canada, France and spent 3 months in Finland. Recently, I went to South Africa for one month.

I teach English and French, learn foreign languages, paint and ride a scooter/motorbike to work or for pleasure. I also love hiking in the mountains, kayaking, riding a bike and bird ringing. Friendship is something I can't live without. I have a 20-year-old daughter.

I went from Poznań to Warsaw and back by scooter. In August 2018, I went to Prague, the South of the Czech Republic and to Austria by scooter. My last stop was in Vienna, then I travelled to Brno, Wrocław and Poznań by train.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love to travel and some time ago, I discovered a new passion: riding a scooter. I also started participating in painting workshops in different locations. Doing these three things at the same time and talking to people (preferably in their own language, whenever it's possible) makes me incredibly happy. Polish is my mother tongue. I also speak English, French and Spanish. I have a pretty good knowledge of Portuguese and Italian (which allows me to talk to my friend in Italian despite not being completely fluent in it). Poznań didn't use to be such an international city as it is now. I'm happy it's changed so much and I try to take advantage of it as much as possible. But I also love going abroad and meeting new people there. Having lived in four different countries helps me feel really at ease with other people whose background is different from my own.

Interests

I learn and teach languages (on one-to-one basis) in 2 language schools and on my own. I especially love French, that was my first major. I completed French and Hispanic Studies and Pedagogy.

I'm involved in the local and international Urban Sketchers movements (sketching live daily people, architecture...). I love drawing and painting, mostly with watercolours, dry pastels and pencils. I draw or paint landscapes, architecture, animals (mostly birds) and flowers.

I ride a scooter for pleasure, to work and I plan to go on a trip to Spain and Portugal by motor at some point.

Hiking in the mountains has always been extremely important for me. I like going to the seaside, staying at the lake etc. too. I like visiting interesting cities, however, I can't imagine I could limit myself only to the latter.

• travelling
• watercolour painting
• landscapes
• bird ringing
• learn and teach languages
• riding a scooter
• volunteering to help preserve natural landscapes

Music, Movies, and Books

Ethnic/folk music (eg. Ablaye Cissoko)

Books by Andrzej Stasiuk, Antonio Muńoz Molina, contemporary Polish writers, Marguerite Duras, Amelie Nothomb (yes, she's controversial and I love her style), books about how to paint, psychology books

Films by Krzysztof Kieślowski (and many others)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I managed to swim by kayak quite a challenging part of the Dunajec river without any previous training.

I went on a group trip to the wilderness in winter. We slept in tents (-21 degrees Celsius).

I learned by myself how to ride a scooter.
I travelled by scooter to the South of Poland, across the Czech Republic, to Austria 59 km from Salzburg then to Attersee, Vöcklabruck, Linz and Vienna.

I travelled alone to and in South Africa. I stayed there for four weeks.

I sometimes can hardly believe it when I look at some of my paintings. I did them, not someone else.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you have any questions about Poznań, Poland, if you need help with English or French, I'll gladly help.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can draw you something :)
I can help at home.
If you need help with English or French, I'll be there too.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Finland, France, Poland