Hi! My name is Oisín (pronounced "uh-sheen"). I'm a newly-graduated university student from Ireland who craves to experience the wider, wilder world!

I am at times a bit introverted, though if I'm in the mood I could talk with you for hours on end! I enjoy exploring places on my own because it gives me so much freedom to do whatever I want to do whenever I want to. Having said all that, I do like to live life on the edge and take fun risks! A lot of the time I don't plan too strictly ahead of time and I enjoy a nice amount of spontaneity when exploring.

I am vegan so I don't eat/drink any meat, fish, eggs or dairy products (or use any other animal products). I also don't drink alcohol.

I love taking in the nature of a place and just immersing myself in the natural environment around me.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am on couchsurfing to discover different places and cultures and to meet some cool and interesting people along the way. I just want to get out of my comfort zone and go to all the places I dreamed of going to, along with places I haven't yet dreamed about! I feel that Couchsurfing would be the best way of engrossing myself in the local environment and a fantastic way to meet like-minded people from all around the world. Couchsurfing is also a fun and creative way of simply making some truly great friends, and what more could I ask for than that? (it could also help improve my social skills haha)

Interests

I really like travelling to places to experience the local culture and atmosphere as well as taking in the beautiful surrounding nature. There are not many feelings better than when I feel like the only person in the world, surrounded by the beautiful vastness of nature with not a single person in sight! I also love hiking and climbing mountains. I like being with other people a lot but sometimes I also really enjoy being alone.

I love talking about philosophy, history, culture, books and music (particularly classical music), but I also really enjoy talking to people about what interests them!

I also love football and support Manchester United, but I like many other sports too.

I very much enjoy and appreciate many different (vegan) foods and am very intrigued by various local cuisines. I am not an amazing cook myself but I can cook a few basic things (I'd love to learn to cook better)!

I like many types of music, including dance-pop and Irish trad (folk) music, but my favourite genre of music is classical music. I also really like soulful folk music from all regions of the globe. I am keen to experience all the various genres and tastes in music (and all art forms at that) of the people I meet (there is no such thing as an objectively good/bad work of art, so I'm open to everything)!

Also I'm a real sucker for a nice art gallery :D

Most of all I like to get out and explore new things!

• dancing
• classical music
• hiking
• history
• philosophy
• physics
• solo travel
• art
• food
• travelling
• nature
• adventure
• football
• adrenaline
• veganism
• manchester united
• effective altruism
• animal advocacy

Music, Movies, and Books

I'll be honest and say that I haven't been much of a reader in my life, but over the past few years I have made an effort to read more books. Though I have most recently read "Life and Fate" by Vasily Grossman which, along with maybe "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, is one of my favourite books that I have read so far.

Regarding movies, there's a lot that I like, but I've recently gotten into Studio Ghibli films, and I love "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" and "Grave of the Fireflies".

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I hitchhiked, hiked and camped through France for a month on my own earlier last year and it was a fabulous experience!

Two summers ago I went to Portugal, and I hiked from Praia das Maças to Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point of continental Europe) along the cliffs looking over the Atlantic Ocean, and I think it was the most stunningly beautiful hike I have ever been on!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd love to learn how to cook more things! I also like learning new languages (even just a few words!)

I can teach you some words in Irish (or "Gaeilge" as we say in Irish) as well as English.

Of course, I would also be delighted to share with you whatever interesting stories I have about me and my travels, and I'd love to hear any stories or anecdotes you have :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, United States, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ireland