Hi, I'm Magnus. I'm Russian, from Estonia, currently living in the UK. Biology graduate from University of Southampton and sustainability nerd.

I make art, develop indie video games, sing, write articles for websites and volunteer in science outreach and conservation projects.

I care a lot about the environment. My goal is to save the world! This led me to becoming an active member of Extinction Rebellion UK - participating in protests and climate strikes, giving talks and working on making our movement more inclusive.

I am also really passionate about LGBTQ+ and disability issues, and have started a neurodiversity and disability group at my uni. (Yes, autistic and proud :3)

I love animals and get along with most cats (very important fact). I am 99% vegan, with some tiny exceptions (mostly things like sweets I didn't pay for) - a decision I made to follow my own values of being kinder to animals and the environment. (And my body can't digest milk anymore so I have no choice :'D)

I am a little shy, but I try to not let it stop me from making friends and experiencing life. Awkwardness is strong but my adventurous nature is stronger. So hello!

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I am non-binary and use they/them pronouns, in case you were wondering. Very happy to get to know more LGBTQ+ people, though it's not a requirement by any means!

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Yes, I am a real person:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/magnus-kai-gorny-a00b6983/
https://magnusgornyart.weebly.com/

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

I like seeing the world, practicing languages and meeting new people. I've also had some very positive experiences here. Originally I found it as a way to travel on a budget, but it is so much more. A hotel won't give you the same personal and cultural exchange as staying with a real local human c:

Hosting is tricky in Tallinn because I don't really have my own place there (staying with family). In Southampton I live in a shared house with two housemates. We don't have much space but a sofabed exists.

Intereses

Sciences, arts and all kinds of fun things: biology, psychology, neuroscience, physics, languages, visual arts, ceramics, music, books, video games. Also, outreach and activism on environmental and social issues.

And, of course, travelling. I'm looking forward to visiting many places and making the most of each experience.

• arts
• books
• singing
• cooking
• vegan
• walking
• anime
• video games
• traveling
• pottery
• music
• hiking
• art history
• biology
• ecology
• languages
• neuroscience
• physics
• psychology
• visual arts
• mountains
• sea
• veganism
• ceramics
• sunsets
• freeganism
• lgbtq
• singing,

Música, películas y libros

- Music:
All kids of stuff, leaning towards alternative and experimental music. IAMX, Kaizers Orchestra, Bondage Fairies, múm, daoko and Mother Mother are some long-time favourites.

- Books:
I own a huge book with all stories about the Moomins. I loved them when I was a kid and still do.

Besides that, I like Erich Maria Remarque; "Hunger" and "Mysteries" by Knut Hamsun; "Fight Club" and "Choke" by Chuck Palahniuk; "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov, "1984" by George Orwell. All-time favourite poet is Vladimir Mayakovski.
I also read a fair number of non-fiction/science books, but I often don't finish them because of my short attention span...

- Games:
Danganronpa, Sally Face, Life is Strange, Undertale, RPG Maker games.

- TV Shows, etc.:
Queer Eye, Steven Universe, Rick and Morty, BoJack Horseman.

Long-time anime and manga fan. Favourites include Serial Experiments Lain, Oniisama e..., Mushishi, Aku no Hana, Flip Flappers, Houseki no Kuni. And I adore absurdist slice of life comedies like Nichijou, Arakawa and Osomatsu-san. Recently fell into JoJo and I can't get out, help.
Favourite manga authors are Shuzo Oshimi, Inio Asano and Junji Ito.

Algo increíble que he hecho

Spontaneously went hiking in the mountains in Norway. In the rain. In light, non-waterproof New Balance walking shoes. With a bunch of really fast sailors. While being my unfit self. Do not try this at home, kids.

Oh, and I sailed on a fregate for almost 2 weeks, without any prior experience. Also Norway.

I think going to uni in the UK counts too. And going to Belize with said uni.

Enseña, aprende, comparte

Teach:

- I can teach you Russian! And Estonian, although I'm not a native speaker.

- I can also tell you things about biology, like why people don't have green hair or what happens when you send a tardigrade to outer space. Or, you know, something a bit more practical as well.

- I can talk with/at you for an hour about how to save the world from climate breakdown through science, activism and politics combined.

- I can teach you about neurodiversity, stim toys, acceptance, that sort of thing.

Learn:

- I am always ready for learning language and culture stuff. My current interests are Finnish and Swedish. Hoping to get to Japanese one day.
Generally, I am curious about everything, the world is big and wonderful.

Qué puedo ofrecer a los anfitriones

Awkward conversations
Less awkward conversations (after a little while)
Drawings
Sweets
My music taste
My cooking
Boardgames
Experiences

I can also make some weird-looking (but great-tasting) Estonian sweets upon request. And teach you all about being a lazy, always tired student vegan.

Países que he visitado

Belize, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Países en los que he vivido

Estonia, United Kingdom