Hey! I’m Vova, originally from Russia. As long as I can remember, I’ve been curious about the world — different cultures, languages, and people.

That curiosity led me to spend more than eight years living abroad: four and a half years in Turkey, one year in Georgia, and two and a half years in Thailand.

Now I’m continuing my journey, exploring new places and meeting people along the way.

I’ve also written a novel (still waiting for editing), and I really enjoy storytelling and deep conversations.

One of my favorite things is talking to strangers — I believe every person has a unique story, and that’s the best way to understand the world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of traveling the world, but for a long time I kept that dream somewhere in the background.

One day, while browsing the internet, I came across Couchsurfing — and it immediately felt like the perfect way to explore the world through people. I signed up right away and realized this is exactly the kind of experience I was looking for.

Interests

Talking to strangers, traveling, and meeting open-minded people. I enjoy storytelling, exploring the world, and learning through real experiences. I’m also into Muay Thai, boxing, running, long walks and dancing.

I like writing, blogging, reading, and learning languages. I’m interested in personal growth, meditation, and constantly changing my perspective on life.

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
I enjoy atmospheric and electronic music like Islandman — Kaybola.

Movies & shows:
Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Fight Club, and Toto Looks for a House.

Books:
I like both psychological and philosophical books, such as John Kehoe’s Mind Power, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, and Istanbul Trap.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing I’ve done or seen… actually, there are many.

I’ve lived abroad for more than eight years, worked as an independent tour guide in Istanbul, hitchhiked thousands of kilometers across different countries, and written a novel that took me eight years to complete.

I’ve experienced a storm on a small sailing yacht where the mast hit the waves, run a full marathon, and even found myself surrounded by wild boars in nature.

I’ve also achieved deep meditation states where I completely lost the sense of my body and felt connected to everything around me.

But probably the most important thing is that I learned to believe in myself and follow my own path.

Teach, Learn, Share

I began my higher education at an Engineering Institute, specializing in electricity supply. However, my strong interest in travel and cultural exploration eventually led me to leave the program in my fifth year.

After that, I pursued several different areas of study connected to my interests and professional experiences. I studied photography and worked for some time as a photographer.

I also completed training in guiding and excursion management, which led to my six years of work as a tour guide.

I later studied teaching methods for children and worked for a period as an online primary school teacher.

In addition, I have explored personal development practices, including meditation, trance techniques, and courses in hypnotherapy.

I enjoy learning different skills and exploring new fields of knowledge.

These different fields of study taught me how to adapt quickly when communicating with different kinds of people. I feel comfortable starting conversations with people from many cultures and backgrounds.

Through these experiences, I realized how fascinating and unexpected human conversations can be, which only increased my curiosity about the world.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can offer you good energy, great conversations, and a lot of travel stories from around the world.
I enjoy sharing knowledge — I can introduce you to meditation, talk about writing (I’ve written a novel), and teach some basics of martial arts or languages.
I also like cooking and would be happy to make something for you — especially mashed potatoes with cutlets or pancakes 😉
Most importantly, I bring an open mind, a kind attitude, and a genuine interest in people.

Countries I’ve Visited

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Georgia, Russian Federation, Thailand, Turkey