Some years ago I was a chemistry student in the University of Helsinki. I was frustrated with my life and after some soul searching decided it was high time to make my life-long dream come true: I left Finland for New Zealand. During my solitary travels through the country I met some wonderful people and got amazing experiences through couch surfing and wwoofing (willing working on organic farms). I also found a passion for photography. So, after I found my way back to my native Finland I began my photography studies in a program of audio-visual communications in the autumn of 2010. One thing let to another - the hunger grew, so to speak. Now I study photojournalism in the University of Tampere and work as a part time freelance photographer. Life is pretty exciting at the moment!

Twitter: @satumaari

Instagram: @satumaariv

Blog: http://satumaari.tumblr.com/

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a wonderful way to get to know new places and meet new people. I started couchsurfing when I was travelling in New Zealand back in 2009-2010. I experienced warm hospitality and, with the help of my local hosts, got to see some truly amazing places far from the beaten track. As a surfer and host, I have made lifelong friends!

I currently live in a shared flat, so I can't host surfers at the moment, unfortunately.

Interests

My main interest, of course, is photography, a hobby that become a profession. I'm also a big lover of movies and other forms of great storytelling. When I want to rewind, however, I go for a long run, preferably in the nature. I've ran two marathons: 2013 in Budapest and 2014 in Helsinki. This year, I'm training for the Berlin Marathon which is in September.

• photography
• marathon
• running
• movies
• traveling
• blogging
• surfing
• track and field
• chemistry
• communications
• freelancing
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

I admit to being a bit of a book worm. Fantasy novels are my favourites but I do enjoy literature in general. For me, good stories are what's important no matter the medium. The Lord of the Rings books and movies made an everlasting impression on me when I was a girl and the love for Tokien's works has not waned. True Detective, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones are some of my favorite television shows from recent years.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Following my true passion even if it means less secure income in the future.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you some Finnish, which is offen referred to as one of the most difficult languages in the world.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Macao, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Finland, New Zealand

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