Hello!
My name is Marios.
I am from Nicosia Cyprus and have been living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina for the last 8 years. I landed here after receiving a scholarship to study at UNC and came without knowing anything about this place, which I have come to love.
Despite my love for this place, the beauty of the places where I have traveled and the admiration of the cultures that I have experienced, nothing has surpassed my love for my home country, the beautiful island of Cyprus.
I am currently working as the Director of Grants and Programs at an NGO in Chapel Hill that works in international development through education.
I enjoy meeting new people from around the world and this is why I am here!
A fun fact about me is that in my home country, backpacking is not so much a common practice, or perhaps I have not come across it too often. However, when I see travelers, I strike a conversation, show them around my town and take them to my home, where my family welcomes them and shows them our tradition of hospitality. Apparently, as my mother says, I somehow took this from my grandmother :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to have friends all around the world, and this is why I am here! I have been wanting to have a couchsurfing account for a while, but never had a space to host until now. Now that I do, I have taken the opportunity to set up this account and look forward to help like-minded travelers. I love being a traveler and hate being a tourist. I believe that people using this site are the traveler kind, and these are people I would like to meet, and help out in their journeys.

Interests

I like hanging out with friends and having interesting conversations about meaningful things. I have zero knowledge of pop culture and haven't owned a TV in years. I like reading about what is going on in the world and stay informed about global issues.
I like music and play the saxophone and the piano.
I enjoy watching independent cinema and documentaries but I would always opt out if I have the opportunity to have a nice conversation over wine.

• culture
• folklore
• documentaries
• beauty
• education
• wine
• movies
• reading
• tv
• music
• piano
• backpacking
• swimming
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

I have a versatile taste in music. I like Greek traditional music, middle eastern sounds and alternative pop-rock. However, I have acquired a taste for American country music, but usually that is contained within my car while I drive. Jazz is good for the background and funk is great for dancing!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The question catches me by surprise...
Went swimming with sharks in the Galapagos?
Traveled half away across the world and back in a week?
Gave a speech in front of 16.000 people ....
Watched a beautiful sunset with a glass of wine without saying a word ...
I don't know..

Teach, Learn, Share

That's my life!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories of life, culture, travels, friendship and kindness

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cyprus, Greece, United States