time for some personal marketing. now I need you to believe I'm an approachable and trustworthy guy

I'm Pedro Valença, born and raised in Recife, Brazil. A couple of years ago I graduated Law school and recently I've moved to Lisbon, where I study International Relations. I'm finally studying what I love and man, it feels good!

I've been a geonerd since I was a kid (what's the capital of Guinea-Bissau? try me!) and I've always had this fascination with all things from abroad. I'm very curious about the world we live in. the earth is massive, diverse and endlessly fascinating. I wanna travel as much as I can

I like to think I'm the boldest and most impulsive member of my friend group (quote: "what do you mean you're staying at strangers' houses?! go to a hotel like a normal person!"). I love my friends but we have a different mindset when it comes to travelling.

I strongly believe we (as humans) have a lot to learn from each other and I would appreciate the opportunity to learn some things from you and hopefully share a little bit of my own. I'm a good story-teller and an even better listener.

I'm pretty shy and quiet at home but when I'm travelling I know I have to be as talkative and as open as possible, because this is how you connect to people. But always respecting your privacy and intimacy, of course.

I'm a big advocate of my city. I fell in love with Recife when I realized how much it shaped my character. Eventually I want to move out for good, but Recife is home and always will be. We're a proud people in this part of the world. Recife is one of the oldest and biggest cities in Brazil and its citizens are almost unbearably proud of it. You'd feel proud too if you lived in a city with a rich history that constantly celebrates local traditions. So while I'm travelling I also play the part of a Recife ambassador.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Life is meeting interesting people and places!

You get to meet a lot of different people with different lifestyles and intersting stories to tell. Plus, people in this website are generally interested in travelling, world affairs and foreign cultures, which are my favourite topics of conversation.

also, couchsurfing allows me to meet and talk to new people. Hostels are cool but they're too impersonal and, as I said, I'm shy at first. Couchsurfing makes it easier to connect.

Interests

well, since I study International Relations, I have a natural affinity for history, geography, politics and world affairs. I'm also interested in economics, literature, tv shows, cinema and psychology.

I collect mugs from places I've been. I love beer, I love coffee (that sounded silly), and I like trying out new food. I'm actually very passionate about food (eating food, not making it. although my cooking isn't half-bad and I can make some kick-ass brownies)

science-fcition is also a big interest of mine. not only reading and watching movies/tv shows about it, but also thinking about it. I try to read as much as I can about cosmology, the birth/end of the universe, physics, galaxies, string theory and etc. specially when it comes to the multiple univeres theory because it gets really fascinating and phyilosophical

also pokemon

• arts
• culture
• writing
• literature
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• sauna
• drinking
• drinking games
• politics
• movies
• reading
• tv
• traveling
• music
• fishing
• bungee jumping
• soccer
• swimming
• economics
• geography
• history
• law
• political science
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Arcade Fire is my number favorite band, but Metronomy, Tame Impala and The National come very close to the top . I also listen to Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, The Walkmen, Belle and Sebastian, Kaiser Cheifs, Beach House, Vampire Weekend, The Magnetic Fields, The Vaccines, LCD Soundsystem, Bright Eyes, Spoon, Wolf Parade, Jamie T, The Knife, Sleigh Bells, MGMT,...... etc

Movies - big fan. Wes Anderson, Iñárritu, the Coen Brothers, Hayao Miyazaki, Tarantino and Nolan.
Sci-fi and drama are probably my favourite genres. Some of my favourites: Little Miss Sunshine, Forrest Gump, Birdman, Boyhood, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Inglorious Basterds, Django Unchained, V for Vendetta, Babel, The Royal Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom, The Fantastic mr. Fox etc etc

I watch a lot of tv shows. I've seen every season of The Amazing Race (and there are 24 of them) and my favourite shows are Breaking Bad, The Office (US), Game of Thrones and Lost. I also like Fringe, Daredevil, The 4400, Homeland, Arrested Developmemt, Community, Mr. Robot, Dexter and the list goes on......

My favourite authors are José Saramago, Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel García Bernal. You can tell I'm a fan of magic realism and ibero-american literature. I'm also into comics. Batman, Scott Pilgrim, Watchmen etc (I geek out a lot, I play pokemon on nintendo ds and I kick some serious ass)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I won a regional pokemon tournament (it's a real thing) when I was 12.

I was bitten by a penguin in Patagonia when I was 15 (they bite)

I sang the brazilian national anthem with a group of students inside a wood sauna in Tallinn (they asked for it). We were all drunk, so it was fine. Then we jumped into a pile of snow with our swim trunks while it was -23 outside. I woke up with the flu but it was totally worth it.

I was part of a project by the Alcadía de Bogotá to bring foreigners to teach english in public schools. I met wonderful people who I keep in touch with and I got in touch with some amazing kids and teens.

I went to Japan!!!!

I've climbed the Great Wall of China

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to curse in portuguese with a northeastener accent. portuguese is the best language to curse, I promise. I'll definitely try to convince you to visit me in Recife, I'll teach brazilian drinking games. I cannot teach you how to dance or play football, though

What I Can Share with Hosts

If you like music, I can make you a mixtape with bands I listen to and I could make a brazilian desert if I find the ingredients.

I'll bring you something from Recife. As I said, I see myself as an ambassador!

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Lithuania, Macao, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, Colombia, England, Portugal