I'm an idealist and optimist and I absolutely love to travel. I love having intellectual conversations on nearly any topic at all. I can enjoy a bit of a small talk but I do get tired of it after a while. I'm independent but also soft. I like harmony. I'm a good listener and I like to share my stories.

It’s a bit tricky to tell a whole lot about me since I feel I’ve changed so much, several times. I feel as if I’ve lived several different lives, been a few Different versions of myself in different locations and different circumstances. There was this time when I shared a 1 bedroom flat with 13 other people (and a room with 5 other people), trying to save up for travels working two shifts like a donkey. And a time when I lived right next to a Prime Minister. A time of partying and enjoying life in Barcelona and exhausting consulting life which led to a professional burn out. A time of Maria the hippie, Maria the party animal and a Maria the workaholic.

If you are in CS for the same reason I am, you have read my profile and will write me because you feel we might connect, not because you are looking for a free hostel or using it as a dating platform.

I'm an easy going person - I can connect with people from very different backgrounds, the more different we are, the more interesting. I've shared some great CS experiences with various people, from 80 year old ladies (history lessons over tea) to people who didn't speak English (we invented our own sign language).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've been on couchsurfing (and previously on hospitality club) since 2003. I've hosted a number of people and been hosted by a few, but mostly I've used it to connect with locals and other travelers to go out for a meal, drink, trip, walk or a party.

What I value most is that often I get to meet people whom I wouldn't be able to meet otherwise, people whose stories differ so much from mine, people of different ages and background. And that's what allows me to be a traveller rather than a tourist. And that's why I'm here.

Interests

Nature, documentaries, languages, food, cycling

Music, Movies, and Books

I love documentaries on various issues: human rights, conflicts, environment, politics, globalization, economic development, etc. My favorite: The Promises (Israeli - Palestinian conflict through the eyes of children)

From theater movies the following:

la vita e bella(R.Benigni);
amelie(JP Jeunet);
the secret life of words;
mi vida sin mi(I.Coixet);
fiddler on the roof(joseph stein);
manderlay(L von Trier);
Dzien Swira(M.Kotarski):
meet joe black(M.Brest);
Before sunrise(R.Linklater);
before sunset(R.Linklater);
paris (Klapish);
Pregi(M.Piekorz);
nirgendwo in africa(C.Link);
hard candy(D.SLade);
Plac Zbawiciela(K&K Krauze);
Va, Vis et Deviens(R.Mihaileanu);
Lo non ho paura(G.SAlvatores);
jeux d'enfants(Y. Samuell);
back to the future(R.Zemeckis);
forrest gump(R.Zemeckis)
algunas chicas doblan las piernas cuando hablan (Ana Diez);
the constant gardener (Fernando Meirelles);
Seres Queridos (Dominic Harari);
Once (J.Carney);
Die fatten Jahren sind vorbei (H.Weingartner);
Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi; Vincent Paronnaud);
Viajo porque preciso, volto porque te amo (Karim Ainouz)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was the maid of honour on a two hundred Iraqi wedding, got my 8 minutes of fame on a popular Polish travel show, I did the parachuting, bungee jumping but nothing really makes me as high as visiting new places, discovering new cultures and getting a new perspective on life

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Cook Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Brazil, Poland, Spain, United States

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