I am a social anthropology student from Latvia, currently residing in Germany. Prior to my move to Germany, I worked as an au-pair in five different countries, namely England, France, Netherlands, Austria, and Germany. While learning the German language, I also completed a three-year apprenticeship and became an orthopaedic technician. However, I did not see myself continuing in that profession and always dreamed of pursuing higher education. Finally, in my late twenties, I enrolled in university to study social and cultural anthropology, which I absolutely love!

Throughout my life, I have always had a strong passion for traveling and meeting new people. I consider myself a very curious individual with a broad range of interests.

You can check my instagram: @nickykronberga

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The first time I used Couchsurfing was back in 2009 when I went on a hitchhiking trip from Latvia to Italy. Over the years, I have used Couchsurfing several times, with my most recent experience being in 2018. Unfortunately, I cannot log into my old profiles. However, I have added a screenshot of my profiles at the photo gallery, so you can find those and read the references.

The main reason I use Couchsurfing is because I don't enjoy the typical tourist experience where you simply move from one sightseeing spot to another and then back to your hotel. Such a style of travel doesn't allow you to connect with local people or truly experience a place. For me, the most important part of exploring a country is meeting the people who live there. By doing so, you can gain a first-hand perspective and learn about their experiences and viewpoints. Additionally, it is fascinating to gain insight into the lifestyles of local residents.

Interests

• photography
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• ecological lifestyle
• paddling
• mushroom picking
• social anthropology
• human-animal relations

Music, Movies, and Books

There have been two recent movies that I really enjoyed - "Where the Crawdads Sing" and "All Quiet on the Western Front." As for music, I like a variety of genres, ranging from classical to techno and hip hop. Some of my favorite artists include Agnes Obel, GusGus, Tiesto, 2pac. When it comes to books, there are too many to mention, but a few that have stuck in my mind over the past few years are "The Wild Souls" by Emma Moris and "Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia" by Jean Sasson.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I believe that I have many interesting stories from my life that I can share and that I make for good conversation company. I enjoy discussing a variety of topics, ranging from philosophy and politics to sociocultural issues.

In addition to being a good conversation partner, I have a passion for gardening and photography. I am always up for spending time in the garden, and it would be great to share my love for gardening with fellow enthusiasts. Overall, I am open to many different activities and would love to hang out and do things together!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, England, France, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands