Consume less, give more, live more simply, not to be judgemental, help as you can those in need and enjoy life with all it offers and takes - the principles I try to hold to.

A peaceful mind, educated and open-minded person who appreciates communication, simple pleasures and new impressions. A down-to-earth dreamer, some say). Usually low-key and laidback, of contemplating nature, I still can go a little crazy, when it's OK) I've travelled quite a bit, lived in four countries, met locals; some encounters have grown into real valuable friendships. I like listening to the others' stories, collecting them and questionning seemingly obvious things.
I love people :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Sometimes I badly need to travel even when I cannot leave the place I live in) Wanna meet people and share some warm and funny moments. As simple as that.

I both hosted and surfed with dozens of people. All very different but all very cool! And I keep fond memories of them all.

Interests

However cliché it may seem, simple joys of life: conversations accompanied by some good wine, live music, cooking, hanging out with friends, photography (basics), psycholinguistics and languages (I'd love to learn at least a little bit of any language of any country I've visited and will visit in the future), and ... I'm a bit of a self-made sommelier (wine tasting, hmmm?) and an avid nature-lover: dramatic mountainous landscapes are my passion. Art, history and architecture as well. I really admire all beautiful things I see, but the universe of sounds and smells fascinates me no less if not more.

• cats
• arts
• singing
• architecture
• photography
• cooking
• wine
• wine tasting
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• live music
• hiking
• paragliding
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: A bit of everything, really, ranging from flamenco, bossa-nova, old good retro stuff, jazz-blues-soul, classical (Tchaykovsky, Rakhmaninov, Shnitke, Malher, Händel) to recently discovered Japanese jazz (Maki Asakawa? for instance) and J-disco.
Movies: Too many to count. Wong Kar-Wai among others. Independent cinema. Some documentaries left me speechless.
Books: The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs by Irvine Welsh, The Agony and The Ecstasy by Irving Stone, Halvbroren by Lars Saabye Christensen to give an idea.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Probably not one and not really amazing but still memorable: living and working in Guinea, West Africa; pilgrimage in Japan; Sylvester's Night (New Year's Eve) in Zurich; paragliding near Prague, watching unexpected polar lights in Russian North; hiking along North Yorkshire coast and at Norwegian fjords to see the sunrise, singing Edith Piaf on public in a Parisian cafe-chantant; adopting a stray cat.

Teach, Learn, Share

A few things to teach, some more to share, a lot more to learn) Open to anything

What I Can Share with Hosts

My flat, a meal, my ideas

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Guinea, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Guinea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom