Hey everybody, I'm Joana!

Overall I think I'm a very open minded and tolerant person. I love being around fun people, and I try to be in the best mood possible!
I'm 23 years old and I've recently finished my Master's in international relations after studying in my hometown, Coimbra, in Portugal. J K Rowling took inspiration from our costumes when thinking about the costumes of Hogwarts! You can see the real thing in one of my photos.
And here is also a video of my city: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSIf-ngo0tA
Also as a part of my studies, I took part in a university program starting in 2016 that allowed me to study political science and live in Bordeaux, France for 2 school years. It made me grow a lot and I got some great experiences and stories out of it.

In the summer of 2016, I got involved with a Erasmus+ project and I volunteered in Bulgaria for 2 months. I absolutely loved my stay there, and I got to travel all around Bulgaria and see a little of the Balkans.
The summer of 2017 was marked by my trip to China, after I was given the opportunity to go to Summer School in Beijing! It was the first time I ever visited Asia, and it definitely broadened my horizons.
I love travelling, getting to know new cultures and learning. I also love music, mainly indie rock, movies and tv shows.

Currently I'm working at a firm which focuses on developing EU funded projects, specifically in the areas of human rights of prisoners, living conditions, reinsertion and prison systems overall. Besides being inspiring area, my job also involves travelling allover Europe!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I decided to join couchsurfing mainly because it's an opportunity to share experiences together. First of all, you will meet people with the same mindset as you, tolerant, travel lovers, eager to find new experiences and adventures.
Secondly, I believe that you will never truly know a city if you're a lone foreigner; there is no possible comparison between visiting a city with a travel guide and with a local. And if you love to travel, you will surely want the full package, the hidden parts of the city, the many secrets and funny stories (which the travel guide will never provide) :D
BUT what really caught my eye about Couchsurfing is the idea of community. The solidarity, the caring, these are values that are not so present in our day to day lives, much less when directed to strangers. I was so surprised to discover a community that is simply interested in doing good, and most of all, helping out others, while also growing as a person.
This tolerant and hospitable community actually made me believe a bit more in humanity to be honest.

Interests

• coffee
• movies
• music
• history
• international relations
• political science
• travelling
• indie music
• learning
• indie movies
• different experiences

Music, Movies, and Books

My favourite bands are Foals, and Cage the Elephant.
About movies, I think the one that touched me the most was "Amélie" (Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain). Also "Into the Wild", and "The Dreamers". However, I watch a lot of movies and it's a bit difficult to keep track of favourites.
I really love the book of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and also "The perks of being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I got food poisoning in Ohrid, Macedonia and managed to come back home without having puked my internal organs... I honestly don't think I've ever done something as amazing as that hahaha

Teach, Learn, Share

I can maybe help you practice your English or your French. I can teach some Portuguese words and some of our national culture or history!
I am also an expert at ranting non stop about world politics, even though I probably won't know much about the subject...

What I Can Share with Hosts

My good mood and sense of humour, some funny stories and obviously my feeling of gratitude for their nice gesture of accepting me!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Portugal