CURRENT MISSION

To start serious business again - can also host :)

ABOUT ME

Some notes according to my latest experiences:

When I travel:

I am easy and independent guest. My character raised and lived in Finland, don`t want to give any problems or extra work for the host.

I don`t complain if I have got a bad bed, but I rather sleep in peace in normal bed or on the floor on matrace. I have done my interrail trips and my slepts on the railwaystation already, so not anymore. I also need my 8 hours sleep.

But,

Do not promise me anything, if you don`t know are you around on those dates I travel. When I arrive and if you promised me couch I want to go to my accommodation right away, not wander around in the heat with big bag. (I have adrenal gland fatique and heat makes me seriously ill and for a dangerous state.)Read this again please, because many people does not understand this. NO WALKS IN THE HEAT FOR ME.

This is the reason, I always rather book my accommodation than trust for a couch. Empty promises are a good way to make me pissed off. Also, I can`t stand if you say plans are changed, and then you switch me to some other CS`es, who is somewhere else in the city and I have to wait in a heat and travel and so on. This never works with me, sorry.

I rather meet your grandmother, visit in the country side and eat local food with people than hang around in bars with other travellers and drinking beer.(Those who have T-shirts: Been there, done that. Those who collect countries for collecting.)

The CS dream would be experiencing traditional songs and dances and eating local food somewhere. I am always emotionally present, cabaple for open dialoque and I respect other people and their culture. (when the cultural habits do not harm anyone.) And for me it is not a problem when if I dont understand your granmothers language. I am good with dogs and children.

I cannot sleep in the same place with cats, or where people smoke. Heat is dangerous for me.

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ALL the relaxeness and creativity happens in a structure. When things are clear, you are free. This strategy is built inside of me.

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ABOUT ME:

All about me would be a heavy book :) But the basics: I am unmarried (my own will to be one) I could say I am an intelligent and social person. I do not smoke. I have always had green life-style. I am social and love to talk, especially with intelligent, creative people and with those who are interested about the world. I am interested in your society etc. Read: I have more in common with art hippies than with engineers.

Money has never played important role in my life, it also means that I never have that :)I think I live for the knowledge, expressions and for the adventures. I have had very strong experiences in my life... I am always on the side of the human being.

I love swimming, eating, baking, singing, dancing, colours, reading, cultures and the people.

An enthusiasm for the EAST is interesting thing in my life somehow: I grew up in Eastern Finland, I live at Eastern part of my city, my strong interests are at Middle East and East Africa and the Eastern music traditions touches me most. Somehow west or far Asia doesnt touch me at all. (I have tatar blood by my babushkas side..) I want to learn Arabic. (but also maintain my Swahili and Somali language and to learn Turkish too.) Oh, life is too short for everything and I am getting old already.. Now I study Estonian. Cannot do too many things at the same time.

I might be loud and talkative sometimes :) You might get disappointed if you expect to meet a silent Finn :) I am serious adult, mostly in my serious country, but I can be crazy also... :) But anyway, I love discussions and if you want to learn like poetry singing or crying laments, I can give you a free workshop.

And if you come to Finland, I take you to night swim if you want. That is a real magic here. Water and earth are my elements.

PHILOSOPHY

- Human being is an individual inside the culture.
- Keep your passion up.
- Respect other people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have answered yes for everyones request eralier, but that seems to be mistake. So in future I will be more selective. But I still love to help people and tell everything they need to know. My world is relaxed and tolerate.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Excellent, good and bad. Don`t wanna bad ones anyomore.

One thing: It is an insult when guests with a good experiences does not leave a reference. I think it is like leaving without paying. Especially when on my place guests always know where they stand, and they never have to feel uncomfortable and be pressed for my schedules. People can come and go anytime they want.

For exmple:_ I have waited someone until over 1.00 at night, I give key for everyone I trust, I have cooked dinner for 3 extra people and no reference. I think this is not fair play.

Interests

Music, cultures, people ..etc as mentioned above + much more.

• cats
• dogs
• arts
• culture
• books
• poetry
• singing
• dancing
• dining
• beer
• baking
• partying
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• magic
• music
• swimming
• business

Music, Movies, and Books

This would be a long list. Music is very important for me. Good music has passion and it touches your soul. The best song can do it both. I respect good singers very much. The rhythm is the must. On my own playing list there is mostly world music. Few of my favorites: Les Boukakes, Hamid Baroudi, and I must mention, I am crazy about ESC highlights :)
Styles: Bongo, RAI, Vocal, Accordeon, traditional string instruments, Nordic spelman tradition and of course Finnish folkmusic, Balkanese and Estonian folk music.
Turkish pop is my good friend in everyday life. (This all was my profession in my previous life.)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One experience I warmly remember was id-al fir in Zanzibar 2000, when local women accepted me to their community, after I was dancing on their party. They stared at me for a while from distant position. Then they came to greet me and said Karibu Bwejuu (welcome to Bjewuu) Those were good muslim women. I miss Tanzania a lot.
I also liked the moment when Russian woman asked me the way in Russian on the street of Tallinn. So experiences of adapting are nore important for me than these "been there done that"-section.

Teach, Learn, Share

Living in a "strange" country does not immediately grant one the skills required to face another people. Cultural understanding comes from a personas values and their life experience. ˜Understanding is also a distinct thing from a ˜cultural knowledge.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Finland, Kenya, Tanzania

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