Hello everybody!! My name is Oliver Richards and I'm a 22 year old from Southern California who will be visiting Europe from late May to either late July or early August. I'm new to Couchsurfing and soooo excited to see what is waiting for me! I am a current university student, though took a break because of Covid. However, I will be returning to university in the fall. During my trip, I will be doing some work-away opportunities but also exploring on my own. I'm very passionate about the arts and hope to share my passion with the people I meet. I consider myself an extrovert and love making connections. We all have something to offer to each other and that's one of the reasons I find traveling to be so significant for a person's personal development. I am just really hoping to find myself more on this trip as I feel new experiences add to one's personal development. I love nature, especially hiking. I also love movies, film, theater, and fine art. I'm very interested in architecture as well and just exploring new cities in a country I have never been to before.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm Couchsurfing because I think it would be a great way to meet new people and learn from others. This trip is an opportunity for me to really experience new cultures and I feel by staying with locals, I will be able the immerse myself more fully in each new environment. I would much rather do this than stay in hotels or hostels in each city I visit. By staying with locals, I will be able to gain insider knowledge on the city I'm visiting. I love telling stories, making jokes, laughing, and learning knew skills and knowledge from others. I believe we all have something unique to offer one another, the main reason I am excited for the potential friendships, fun experiences and life lessons couchsurfing could offer me.

Interests

• cooking
• movies
• chess
• painting
• hiking
• soccer
• art
• bars
• ultimate frisbee

Music, Movies, and Books

Fav music: Hip/hop, R&B, Classic Rock, Rap, Global rap, Electronic dance music, Punk rock

Books: I really autobiographies, self-help books, books on comedians, and fiction. one of my favorite books is fear and loathing in las vegas. I really like to just learn new things and I feel reading books on subjects I'm unfamiliar with will be able to gain more knowledge about the world we live in.

Movies:
Any Wes Anderson movie, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Blade, Marvel movies. I also adore comedy

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Though I haven't done a ton of traveling outside the United States, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Tanzania, Africa for a period of three weeks. I got to volunteer in an orphanage as well as witness a total of 322 weddings in 7 hrs. Traveling has opened so many doors for me and offered me a whole new outlook on the world, which I am excited to continue.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach me about your culture, interests, your favorite spots. I want to learn everything. I love music, movies, art, nature, and hiking. Show me your favorite destinations. I'm also a huge foodie so anything food-related is much welcomed.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can offer language, art, and story exchange. I hope to offer my authenticity to those who I interact with during my travels. I'm also an artist so I can teach you some drawing skills! I also am a big cook so we could cook meals and teach each other new culinary skills.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Mexico, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom