Hey! I'm Fernando, a Brazilian-Italian currently working remotely as a Machine Learning Engineer. I’ve lived in the US, backpacked around Europe for over a year, and hosted more than 200 travelers in my home in Foz do Iguaçu through Couchsurfing. I love slow travel, deep conversations, and discovering a place through its people and everyday rituals.

I’m more of an introvert, but very open-minded and curious. I also have ADHD, which makes life wonderfully unpredictable — I’m often juggling ideas, projects, and spontaneous plans. It keeps things interesting and helps me connect with people in unique ways.

I enjoy cooking, hiking, cycling, rock climbing, playing mandolin or guitar, and learning languages (currently into Italian). I’m also a big coffee and tea lover — traveling with my brewing kit is a must. It’s my daily ritual and one of my favorite ways to connect with people.

Back in Brazil, I live with my future wife, Catarina. She’s a warm and thoughtful soul — a nutritionist and researcher. She’s also a former pastry chef and has a great eye for beautiful things. We’ve traveled together a lot and share a love for nature, meaningful conversations, and simple pleasures.

I believe in kindness, mutual respect, and the beauty of cultural exchange. I see Couchsurfing not just as a place to stay, but a way to build genuine human connections across borders.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet inspiring people, discover places through locals’ perspectives, and give back to the community that shaped so many of my best travel memories. I believe we grow as a person when we are outside our comfort zone and bubble. Couchsurfing is a way to meet people that we would usually not meet in usual circumstances. Staying alone at hotels is simply too boring compared to all of that :)

Interests

🌍 Travel and Cultural Exchange

- Slow travel and immersive local experiences

- Backpacking and road trips (e.g., US West Coast, Europe)

- Couchsurfing and connecting with people from different backgrounds

- Exploring off-the-beaten-path places

- Enjoying deep conversations about philosophy, purpose, and creativity

🤖 Tech and Learning

- Machine Learning, AI, and software development

- Building smart, useful tools (e.g., transcription apps, real estate scrapers)

- Always learning — currently into async Python, Italian, and agentic AI

- Teaching and mentoring (e.g., Udacity, consulting roles)

🎵 Music and Creativity

- Playing guitar and mandolin (inspired by Led Zeppelin!)

- A love for progressive rock and meaningful lyrics

- Board games and chess

🍵 Rituals and Aesthetics

- Specialty coffee and tea

- Cooking and enjoying good food

- Appreciation for small daily rituals and objects with meaning

- Enjoying deep conversations about philosophy, purpose, and creativity

⛰️ Outdoor and Physical Activities

- Hiking, trekking, and bikepacking

- Rock climbing and exploring nature

- Camping and introspective physical challenges

❤️ Relationships and Personal Growth

- Sharing life with Catarina, your future wife — a deep and inspiring partnership

- Hosting and helping people, from travelers to students

- Striving for a grounded, authentic life

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Whiplash, Mr Nobody, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Fight Club, Pan's Labyrinth, Léon, Cidade de Deus
Series: Attack on Titan, Rick and Morty, Adventure Time, The Office
Music: Progressive and psychedelic rock, indie, some classical, instrumental, mandolin songs, choro on mandolin

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

- 1.5 years backpacking and volunteering in Europe with no defined route: https://www.polarsteps.com/FernandoWittmann/493469-eurotrip
- my one-year life experience in the United States;
- a 10 days vipassana meditation retreat with no connection with the outside, not allowed to speak, no taking notes, waking up at 4:30am everyday and veg food. Life changing!

Teach, Learn, Share

- Travel stories (and how I crossed the US West Coast with just $400)

- A homemade Brazilian dish (or pancakes, if I don’t mess it up)

- Freshly brewed specialty coffee or tea wherever I go

- Tech tips, coding help, or just a good conversation about life, philosophy, or music

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, United States

•