My name is Mathias and I'm originally from Gothenburg, Sweden. I'm currently travelling the world together with my Dutch girlfriend Anouk, so we are unfortunately unable to host at the moment. However, we love meeting new people and hope to make some great friends before heading back to our home in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

I would like to describe myself as easy going, open minded and always up for trying new things. I love exploring different tastes, whether it is from some local food or an obscure experimental beer style.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

When travelling, it really is the people you meet that make the journey. I've noticed that the ones I've met through Couchsurfing have all been very interesting, friendly and helpful people. It also has been great having been shown around by the people who have been hosting me, letting me explore the place I'm visiting through the eyes of a local. These places have more often than not become my favourite ones, all thanks to the strangers who have opened up their homes and given me their time and dedication. I will always be grateful for that, and when leaving to the next place, I'm happy to be able to call them my friends instead.

In the same sense, I love to get the chance of showing off our awesome little city to the people passing through on their trips. It's also really nice to be able to "pay back" for all the friendliness I've received from others while on my travels, at the same time as I can enjoy someone elses company.

Interests

My biggest interest is craft beer, both drinking and brewing it! I'm always on the look out for sampling brews from small, local breweries when I'm visiting a new place. When at home, I'm helping out with the brewing at one of the microbreweries in our city.

To feed my creative side, I'm also giving wood working a go every now and then. It's always satisfying to create something from scratch with your own hands. My latest project was making a lounge set out of reclaimed wood for in the garden, but I'm constantly thinking of new things to make.

I love a good hike, even more so if it is off the track so I can find my own way to the hidden gems in the nature, where I usually will hang my hammock and read a book.

As I recently gotten my open water certificate, I can now also add diving to the list. It's really an amazing feeling being able to freely explore the underwater world and all its creatures lurking around. Unfortunately I don't have too many logged dives yet, but there is definitely more to come.

And of course, last but not least, travelling! I'm currently on my 4th gap year from school... In a row. Eventually I will have to get back to reality, but until then, I plan on seeing and experiencing as much of this world as I can!

• beer
• traveling
• cycling
• scuba diving
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

I can enjoy any kind of music, but when I'm alone I usually listen to either indie, folk or jazz. It's always interesting sharing your music with others and many of my favourite bands I've gotten to know through other people's playlists. Feel free to let me listen to your favourite music, maybe it will turn out to be mine too!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've been fortunate enough to have gotten to see and do some amazing things in this world, but often times it has been the small things that have given me the most intense feeling of happiness. For example, sleeping next to the bonfire on the beach of an inhabited island, climbing to the top of a mountain in pitch black darkness to watch the sunrise, laying in a swag in the middle of the outback, admiring the stars in the sky and listening to the crocodiles in the waterhole next to you. For me, these moments are what makes me wanting to never stop travelling.

Even though it is great to hear stories of what other people have done, it is more interesting to listen to where they want to go from here, what they want to achieve before they die. Here are some things from my ever-growing bucket list:

- See the Northerns Lights
- Hitchhike around the Baltic Sea
- Road trip through Europe, trying all the classic beer styles in the town they were created
- Dive in the Red Sea
- Walk the King's Trail and climb Kebnekaise, the highest mountain of Sweden
- Visit as many national parks in the States as possible
- Experience the Norwegian fjords
- Open and run a microbrewery of my own

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm always up for trying or learning about something new, whether it is about food, sports, history, culture... You name it! In the same sense, I enjoying sharing whatever knowledge or story I have to offer. Either way, the best way to do this is over some good food, delicious beer and in good company.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I always try to do or give a little something for the kindness of sharing your home with me, whether that would be cleaning, cooking us dinner, buying us some drinks to share, etc. I will treat your home the same way I would expect you to treat my home, that is, with respect. Keeping things tidy and causing you as less hassle as possible. That way it is easier for us to have a good time getting to know each other, sharing stories and thoughts about life.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Netherlands, Sweden