Hi! I’m Veronika, a passionate traveler, nature lover, and curious soul from the Czech Republic. I’ve spent the past few months exploring North America - studying at the University of Michigan, volunteering on a small sustainable garden in Canada, and traveling in Hawaii.

I’m into backpacking and volunteering. I did lots of volunteering programs, which have completely changed my personality. I enjoy getting to know places slowly and simply, preferably on foot and with a good map. These experiences often lead me to unexpected conversations, beautiful spots, and the kind of memories that stick. I love meaningful travel, meeting locals, discovering hidden places, and learning about cultures through real experiences — not just ticking off tourist attractions. I also love taking pictures, especially on film camera.

I love Latin dance and I try to find local dance communities wherever I go.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

A couple of years ago, I went on my first volunteering program to Spain, and it completely changed my perception of traveling. Since then, I haven’t been a big fan of the typical kind of travel – staying in a hotel, trying to see as many places as possible, going to the most famous spots just to take a picture. Sure, I do that sometimes too, but I much prefer being in touch with locals and learning about new cultures and traditions.

I honestly believe the world would be a much better place if people were more open to learning about others, instead of just staying in a 5-star hotel and only meeting staff who are forced to smile – even though they don’t actually care. And I know what I’m talking about – I used to work in one of those hotels.

I'd love to host someone in Czechia too, but I’m renting a flat that I share with one other person, and it’s just too small.

Interests

• dancing
• environment
• politics
• traveling
• hiking
• backpacking
• development studies

Music, Movies, and Books

Actually, I like lots of different types of music. I probably prefer dance music and rock. I’m more into TV series than movies – I love sitcoms, and my English has improved a lot thanks to them. Since I have to read a lot of books for school, I don’t read other books that much, so I don’t really have a favorite.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Wow... it's really tough to choose just one. I'll mention two:

Lying in a hot river in Iceland with amazing people, watching the stars, moon, and aurora while it was freezing outside.

The second one – exploring a rainforest area in Costa Rica, probably where no one had been before, with a machete and no service.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love sharing and connecting with others. I can share my favorite vegan and vegetarian recipes, talk about the environment and sustainability, and show how to live more consciously with small everyday changes. I can also teach a few dance moves (especially Latin ones!), share stories from my adventures around the world, or dive into a conversation about politics and climate justice - always with an open mind.

I’d also love to exchange ideas about alternative ways of living, community life, or just chat about music, travel, and all the weird, beautiful things in between.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Croatia, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Czech Republic, Greece, United States