Verified
Woodside, New York, United States
@stephenbernardo1022
Member since 2017
How my friends describe me: 1. Open-minded - hates being in a bubble (I.e., keeping to myself and sticking with people of the same ethnic background as me). I would rather explore the myriads of cultures this world has to offer. 2. Direct/Blunt, no beating around the bush! (similar to my Dutch acquaintances and former co-workers) - half of the time, this gets me into trouble back in my home country. 3. Listener - most of the time mistaken for being anti-social. It would help if you gave me subtle queues when I should be speaking. I am not a fan of small talk, though. 4. Introvert but not anti-social - not a fan of crowded places like clubs and music festivals. Very mindful of personal space. My work experience and travels have exposed me to a multicultural environment, which is something I cannot live without.
Interested in Adventure Sports
Interested in Anime
Fluent in English
Learning German
Why I'm on Couchsurfing
While many see Couchsurfing as a way to get free accommodation (or even as a dating app), I see CS as an avenue for learning about the local culture of the places I visit. I also use this platform to meet like-minded travellers at home or abroad to hear about their stories and share mine in return. Note: 1. CS is NOT Tinder or Bumble. Let’s be clear: I’m not here for a fling or a relationship. 2. Clubbing, partying, bar-hopping, and music festivals such as Coachella (or anything along those lines) are not my cup of tea. I would rather spend time getting to know people from the Couchsurfing community at a personal level. I am fine with casual drinking in a speakeasy bar or a bar with good food (1-2 drinks only). 3. I do not tolerate racism, sexism, or other forms of discrimination. Yes, everyone is welcome regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. This means I don’t welcome far-right shitheads like MAGAT (US), Reform (UK), and AfD (Germany) supporters. 4. I do not smoke
Music, Movies, and Books
One Amazing Thing I've Done
2024 - Colombia Cultural Immersion Project for my MBA (Bogotá and Medellin), Banff National Park 2022 - Relocated to the US and admission for an online MBA in 2022. All in one year! 2019 - Hitched a ride at Oirase Stream, Aomori Prefecture after missing the last bus going back to my guesthouse. 2018 - Helped a Japanese girl with her English homework on local train ride from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima. 2017 - Learned how to speak some Hida dialect in Japan. 2016 - Summited Mt. Fuji in Japan
Teach, Learn, Share
I can cook a decent meal and take pictures.
What I Can Share With Hosts
I can help with chores, cook a decent meal (preferably plant-based), and share my travel experiences.
