Since I've created this account, many things happened in my life and I feel like best description to who I am atm are words of a great poet Wisława Szymborska "We know ourselves only as far as we we've been tested". No, I'm not a poetry fan, but this lady was definitely something more.
For a very long time I thought about myself through the prism of opinions people close to me had about me. Few years ago I realized I unintentionally tried to stay in a frame they've created around me. That's when my biggest journey started for real. And I'm on it since then. Some traits stayed with me, to some I waved for goodbye. But thanks to that, I can write what you can expect from me and what I'm not gonna be.
Travel-wise - I appreciate real acquaintance with fewer, instead of a small talk with a bunch of people.
You'll more likely find me observing locals and searching for off bitten paths, than checking out a popular touristic sights. I don't feel good in the crowd that is usually around them.
To keep things short - what I get to know about myself served in short, direct words: curious, organized, honest, helpful, resourceful, emotional and ambitious. On a dark side I'm short tempered and don't filter what comes out of my mouth if someone is doing b*llshit to me. Learned the hard way to stay true to myself.
One word that would describe me really well?
- OLDSCHOOL

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Cause on my first ever trip I've met a great host, thanks to whom I realized, that the most valuable part of traveling are people encountered along the way. And that solo traveling gives me enormous amount of possibilities to meet them. Beautiful views can be breathtaking, if you have a right company to enjoy them.
I went really smooth from being totally green to traveling, to the point, where the road itself, and the people I meet on it, are just as important to me as reaching my destination.
It takes courage to move beyond comfort zone of what you know. And if I can be any help to other brave people on this journey - it will be my pleasure.

Interests

• photography
• ballroom dancing
• equestrian
• solo travel
• adventure travel
• horse riding
• diy projects

Music, Movies, and Books

Music is my constant companion, movies - weekend guests and books are like beloved, but distant relatives - would love to see them more often.

I'm not very picky - I read and watch almost everything. The only completely indigestible genres of both are sci-fi, thrillers and horrors. I don't like to feel stressed or scared in a process.

When it comes to the music - as long as I don't feel overwhelmed I listen to literally everything. From classical to hard rock. The thing is - some genres I can just "stand", while others I genuinely enjoy. How to know which is which - there is a cool phrase that answers that "if my mouth doesn't say it, my face will definitely do".

My all time favorite 📖 I come back to:
"Lecturer" by Bernhard Schlink. Definitely prefer the book, although Kate Winslet and Ralph Finnes pulled out characters quite well.
"The Orange Girl" by Jostein Gaarder
"The Auschwitz Violin" by Maria Àngels Anglada
"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, and the movie! Amazing Octavia Spencer.

To balance the seriousness - my comfort books - HP serie. They allow me to bring back childhood when life gets a bit too much to handle.

🎧: Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, Lindsey Stirling, Parov Stelar, The Smushing Pumpkins, Kings of Leon, XX, 3 Doors Down, London Grammar, Jessie Ware, Kygo, Flume, Sia, Don Diablo, Billie Eilish, The Animals.
And some that I can't remember, cause I'm terrible with bands and artist names. If it was a commercial, I should write "sponsored by my Spotify library". But hey! Always open for a new discoveries.

🎥: "Hidden Figures", "Blind Side", "The Help", "Merida", "Gifted", "Untouchables", " Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", "The Intern", "Wonder", "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty".

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Realizing that it depends only on me how I'll look at challenges ahead, what I'll do with a lessons I learn from them and what kind of people will surround me along the way.
Every day, in which, in spite of our weaknesses, we realize next steps on the chosen path, are amazing achievements. Once it will be a lonely expedition far away from home and other time putting yourself together in order to go to work.

Some of more down to earth experiences: hitchhiking for a first time in my life, canoeing in Algonquin Park (CA), driving ligit American oldtimer.

Teach, Learn, Share

All things that happening to us are needed. To understand better what is it, that we really want from life and how we want to experience it.
I can share what I've learned so far, will also gladly listen to other points of view. Cause I really believe, that the moment we stop to learn, we stop to live. And I'm done with just existing.
My curiosity of the world and people living in it took me to great places and allowed to learn useful on a road skills. I will be happy to share them with fellow travelers.
Lately my path got a bit bumpy, but that gave me knowledge how to deal with very "unexpected" in my life. And I know traveling can get overwhelming, so I can just be someone to listen if that's what is needed.

Practical life changers I can share:
➡️cooking something out of nothing
➡️good with maps/orientation in terrain
➡️master of compact packing
➡️memorable photo delivered, if you ask me to take one
➡️goofy mood or deep conversations provided -depends on situation.

What I Can Share with Hosts

If our schedules allow - sharing tips and stories about visited places over cooked by me typical Polish dinner.
If circumstances won't be in our favor - I usually have some Polish snacks with me to give a taste of Poland to my hosts.
And I can assure, that their home gonna be my home - so I'll keep it, as I would like to find it. No artistic mess after departure.
Knowing from my host experience not so obvious, so I thought I'll mentioned that.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Russian Federation, Slovakia, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Germany, Poland, United States