Hi there! I'm María and I'm an audiovisual translator and Spanish online teacher trying to find her place in the world 😊.

During college, I went to Dublin with an Erasmus scholarship and it was there that I realized I loved the feeling of living in another country while meeting new people and cultures, as well as sharing stories and listening to different ways of seeing the world.

After I graduated, I went to France for one year to work as a Spanish language assistant. It was a great experience and, again, it reaffirmed my passion for traveling and living new experiences.

It was my boyfriend, Juan, who told me about Couchsurfing. Even though I haven't used it on any of my trips, I have hosted a few people with him and I have totally loved the experience. I think it is very enriching to hear other people talk about their story: their background, their interests, the differences between their countries and mine... It makes you more empathetic and open-minded, and I think that is truly important if we want to improve as a society. I have always learned something new from every person I've met thanks to Couchsurfing and I have even made some friends :)

Right now, I'm not hosting people, but if you are in Salamanca and you want to hang out someday, I'd love to meet you!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

So far, I have found that the best way to travel is by following the advice of people who really know the place since they can tell you about the culture so that you get to picture how the daily life of that place is, and also about the spots you can't miss and the best places to grab a bite (which normally are not the most touristic ones).

That's why I believe Couchsurfing is a great option for travelers who are not looking for a normal trip, but for a full experience that allows you to discover a place from the hand of a local and to meet interesting people with similar interests.

As a host, that's what I try to do. I'm happy to share my time with my guests whenever I can by listening to them, exchanging anecdotes and giving them advice on how to get the most out of their trip to Salamanca.

Interests

• reading
• crochet
• music
• hiking
• history
• travel
• cinema
• learning languages
• meet new people
• comedy shows

Music, Movies, and Books

I would say "Amélie" is my favorite movie. I still remember the first time I watched it and how it made me want to be the best version of myself, as well as to help make the lives of the people around me better and to enjoy those small but magical things in life. I admit that every year I need to watch "Mamma Mia" and "Love Actually" at least once because those are my feel-good movies. I like all genres of movies though and also engage in conversations afterwards to share my thoughts about it.

I love mystery novels, but I'm open to reading any book that tells one of those great stories that remains in your memory for years. Two of the last books that I have read and that have left their mark on me are "El lunes nos querrán" by Najat El Hachmi and "The Dictionary of Lost Words" by Philippa Williams.

As to the music, I like almost every style, although I'd say pop and indie are among my favorites. I love to discover new artists, especially from those countries whose language I speak. For me, a day without listening to some music that helps you get in a good mood is not a good day :)

Teach, Learn, Share

If, like me, you are a language geek and are interested in learning Spanish (or any other of the languages I speak), we can spend some time together and I'll teach you the basic things you'll need to know if you're planning a trip to any of those countries :)

As a good Spaniard, I can cook for you the best invention our gastronomy came up with: tortilla de patata 🤤. And, even if I'm a total beginner on crochet, if you're into it I can teach you what I've learned so far.

Also, if you want to exchange trip advice, I will be happy to share all the tips and secret places I know in Salamanca and in some other places that I got to know well along my travels.

What I Can Share with Hosts

In addition to everything I have mentioned above, I will be happy to help you with any task you may need like cooking or spending time with your pets (if that is the case).

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Ireland, Spain