Some like playing computer games. It's enough for them to take up the challenges and move up a difficulty level in virtual reality. But simulators are not for me. I'm into genuine things. Maybe that's why one day I found myself living in China. More or less spontaneously, I moved from my homeland Russia to a place where people use a totally different writing system.
:......:
So, now I'm living in one of key cities of China, in Nanjing. In Chinese, Nanjing means "Southern Capital". I was born in another capital, in Moscow. I'd been working there as a science journalist for several years until I ended up with my career winning two prizes and publishing a book. I ended up because I wanted more experience, more experiments, more skills. And I made a choice in favor of China despite the fact that I couldn't speak Chinese.
:......:
China changed me a lot. Everyday I am taught here how important little and simple things are and how much happiness they can bring. I am taught here what it is like to be a solo player in many senses, to take easy any failures, to make your own choices without any pressure or help from the family/old buddies, and to be responsible for any results or consequences.
:......:
I've built my own little world here and pretty enjoy my current life although I hope it isn't my last step on the ladder of life. I always dreamt about living in Greece, and I hope one day I will experience my dream on one of the volcanic islands (oh, volcanoes are my fixed idea!).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

My most enjoyable things in life are writing, learning and exploring the world in many ways. These things make me a bit introverted but at the same time, like many introverts, I want to be more or less socialized. I am sure we all need friends to talk to, we all need someone to be involved with.
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And that's my goal of being here. As a true global nomad, I'd like to discover and explore this world by meeting new people and helping them. I want to learn how to trust people and open your doors sharing a territory.
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I do believe that we all can tend to find a common language no matter what gender (I'm pretty feminist btw) or what nationality we are, no matter what our religious preference is, or who our life partner is.

Interests

I am also really into German language, literature, philosophy and classical music.

• arts
• writing
• literature
• theater
• architecture
• design
• graphic design
• movies
• reading
• classical music
• electronic music
• opera
• art history
• biology
• geography
• geology
• history
• languages
• philosophy
• psychology
• sociology
• cultural immersion
• travelling
• linguistics
• cultures
• learning
• handmade
• creative writing
• information technology
• volcanoes
• modern architecture
• musical theatre
• modern dance
• figure skating
• infographics
• solo

Music, Movies, and Books

I am a fan of classic, folk and electronic music although I can also say I am a melomaniac: Richard Strauss, Puccini, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Bach, Villa-Lobos, Lera Auerbach, Goran Bregovic, Dead can dance, Maroon 5, Schiller, Kleerup, Yoav, Coldplay, Onuka, Vangelis, Zemfira, Rammstein, Yolka, Despoina Vandi, Tina Carol, The Klezmatics, Madonna, Esthetic Education...
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Movies directed by Ferzan Ozpetek, Paolo Sorrentino, Pedro Almodovar, Joe Wright, Kim Ki-Duk, Andrey Zvyagintsev; Good Will Hunting, Erin Brokovich, Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others), Clouds of Sils Maria, Amadeus, Moonstruck, Lost in Translation, Revolutionary Road, 시 be Lee Chang-dong (Poetry), La fille sur le pont (The Girl on the Bridge), Dogville, The Life of David Gale, Philadelphia, Suits, House of Cards, Harry's Law, Body of Proof, Bones.
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Nabokov, Henry Miller, Maugham, Heinrich Boell, Thomas Mann, Hesse, Anna Seghers, Natalie Sarrot, Jose Ortega-y-Gasset, Erich Fromm, Bunin, Pasternak, Akhmatova, Tsvetaeva, Hemingway, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Resat Nuri Guntekin, Richard Yates. I am in the middle of reading non-fictional Paul Tillich's "The Courage to Be" and Luuc Kooijmans's "Death Defied: The Anatomy Lessons of Frederik Ruysch".

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I hope I haven't done my best yet.

Teach, Learn, Share

I think I could be a good guide in four places in the world: Santorini Islnd (Greece), Nanjing (China), Cologne (Germany) and Moscow (Russia).

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share my life experience and a lot of information about the places I've been to.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Germany, Russian Federation