For me, travelling is about learning. Learning different languages and their nuances. Learning about new cultures, their customes and rules. Learning about new people, their lives and life philosophies. I want to immerse myself more in the experience of how local people live and learn about other people's life and travel experiences, hopefully while having a great time together and bonding. This could be over a drink, while watching a sunset from a cool vantage point, or while screaming our lungs out in a karaoke bar (my go-to karaoke song is "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel, what's yours? )

My instagram is @nick_parak

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I would like to get to know more local people while travelling to different places. Authentic experiences with locals have always been my favourite moments on my travels and the ones where I could learn the most from. I believe Couchsurfing is a great way to do that (while also saving a bit of money that would otherwise be spent on Hostels).

Interests

• anime
• martial arts
• science
• diving
• calisthenics
• anime and manga

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: I love reading western comics and manga (favourites are Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman, Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura and Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue), and popular science books (mostly on psychology, but that stuff is tough on my brain, so it always takes me months to finish one book).

Sports: I do calisthenics, bouldering and road cycling (on a gravel bike) actively, but have done martial arts (Shaolin Kung Fu and MMA) in the past and would love to get back into it!

Music: Absolutely anything, however have a soft spot for J-Pop and Alt-Rock

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Had a pet capuchin monkey growing up (with pictures to prove it!)

I love to design and 3D print my own gadgets (most of them do NOT work well)

Contrary to my own belief about my knowledge of monkeys, I was robbed my a monkey in Gibraltar. She stole chewing gum out of my backpack and bit me in the head

Climbed over the wall of Gaudi Park in Barcelona because I didn't want to wait for an entry slot for two hours, but felt so bad about doing something illegal that I immediately bought a ticket for the park online (it was 10€)

Became seriously ill while trekking in the Himalaya at 15 years old and had to spend Christmas on my own in a hotel in Lukla, right next to one of the most dangerous airports in the world

Am starting my PhD at the University of Oxford in October in the field of inorganic chemistry

Am currently living in Madrid for 5 months for an Erasmus semester abroad

Love aerospace and have done summer schools and workshops organized by the International Space University and the European Space Agency

Teach, Learn, Share

I love talking about science and teaching people the things I work on and am passionate about. I think there is something innately human about the curiosity and drive to understand the world around us, and I like to share my feelings about these topics with other.

I love to learn about other people's passions. There are many amazing things to do in this life and I want to hear from others what makes them get up in the morning and brings them joy.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Some fun travel stories (as most people I assume)

My passion and love for science

Hopefully my undying love for karaoke and making your ears bleed after my performances (ear plugs are not included, but highly recommended)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Spain