Moi :) I'm Meri, a curious soul from Helsinki! I love learning more about the world through different viewpoints. I’m finishing my studies in sustainability and am interested in education systems and gardening 🌿

I enjoy playing badminton and sometimes also play tennis and volleyball 🏸 I also love to dance! I've danced reggaeton and electro swing, and on the social side I like salsa and Lindy hop, which I can recommend to anyone as you cannot possibly be sad while dancing it! I'm also hoping to pick up hiking and camping more sooner or later as I love being in nature ☀️

Besides sports, I have my artistic side and have been drawing and photographing since childhood. I also enjoy reading, meditation, meeting friends, taking walks, and playing video games (mostly Stardew Valley now haha) in my free time 💫 I’ve recently started growing wildflowers and have a meadow project on my university campus 🌻🐝

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

One of the gifts of meeting people from other cultures is gaining a new point of view at the world and finding inspiration. I see Couchsurfing as a fun way to step out of my comfort zone. I've learned to really appreciate different cultures and the richness they bring into my life both through school and travel, but most of all during my exchange semesters in Michigan (back in high school) and Barcelona (fall 2022)! I wish to continue on this amazing path :)

Interests

• photography
• dancing
• salsa dancing
• education
• cooking
• baking
• meditation
• crafts
• gardening
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• pottery
• painting
• bouldering
• music
• piano
• hiking
• sports
• tennis
• volleyball
• badminton
• history
• languages
• art
• nature
• tea
• sustainability
• gaming
• outdoors
• watersports
• lindy hop
• ceramics
• embroidery
• electro swing
• hackathons
• biodiversity
• studio ghibli

Music, Movies, and Books

🎵 Angèle, Gorillaz, Videoclub, Yumi Arai, Altin Gün, Foster the People, MGMT, The Avalanches, Frank Ocean, touko, Glass Animals, ABBA, the XX, Caravan Palace...

🎬 Absolutely love Studio Ghibli's films! They mean the world to me :) Other than that, I enjoy films like Gattaca, The Prestige, or Parasite.

📖 I grew up on Harry Potter and Terry Pratchett. I mostly read historical fiction and enjoy stories about different cultures and relationships. Some other favorites are the Purple Hibiscus, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Olive Kitteridge.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Skydiving!

(Also, my name means Sea-Wind in English :D)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you about the Finnish culture and make you Finnish food! I'd love to learn about your hobbies, travel stories and dreams, and share food and recipes :)

I'd also love to do sports or art together!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Traditional Finnish treats and cultural exchange (and salmiakki (salted licorice) for the bravest)!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Finland, Spain, United States