Hey! I’m Alkım, an 18-year-old originally from Turkey, currently based in Denmark. I’m a curious soul on a mission to explore the world, one culture, one story, and one conversation at a time. I’m studying Arts and Humanities at The Open University and I’m passionate about history, mythology, and the strange ways language reflects who we are—I’m even working on a personal project about Turkish slang and identity!

I’ve visited most of Europe already and aim to reach 100 countries before I turn 30. Travel for me isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about depth, connection, and learning from the lives of others. I love sharing food, long walks, cultural insights, and great music. I’m also a volunteer (currently at the Middelaldercentret in Denmark), and I’m committed to youth empowerment and cultural exchange through the NGO that I recently have founded with my colleagues, NOVADER.

I’m down-to-earth, open-minded, and always ready to help out, listen, or just laugh with strangers who become friends.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing allows me to travel in a way that’s more meaningful—and more sustainable. As a young traveler on a tight budget, it’s a great way to stretch my journey further. But beyond the economical side, I’m here to experience places through people, not just guidebooks. I believe the real heart of a country beats in its kitchens, conversations, and shared moments. I want to add depth to my travels by staying with locals, learning their stories, and exchanging cultures face-to-face.

Interests

• arts and culture

Music, Movies, and Books

This is a hard one—I’m a bit of a cultural sponge. I love music that tells a story or carries a certain mood. Think everything from Turkish psychedelic rock and Greek folk ballads to Arctic Monkeys, Fikret Kızılok, and maybe even an Icelandic soundscape here and there. Anything raw, poetic, or deeply regional probably speaks to me. But my favourite album of all time might be Everything You Have Come to Expect by the Last Shadow Puppets.

Movies? I gravitate toward films that feel philosophical, surreal, or painfully human. I adore directors like Yorgos Lanthimos, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and maybe a bit of early Nolan. Also, historical dramas and those strange quiet films where nothing happens—but everything changes. But if I must choose a favourite, it is a thing now I am saying Rouge by Kieslowski is my favourite of all time, of course completed with the trilogy. I also do write movie critics regularly!

As for books—I’m an arts and humanities student, so my shelves are a beautiful mess. I love ancient mythologies (Greek, especially), existentialist philosophy, and modern Turkish literature. Think: Homer, Sappho, Camus, Cemal Süreya, Tezer Özlü, and probably a banned book or two. Oh, and I’m translating a Turkish novel into English—it’s taken years, but it’s a labor of love. But the books that have changed my life are the Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam and the first 40 pages of Zorba by Kazancakis.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Volunteering at Middelaldercentret is the source of most of the amazing things I have done lately. I would probably say it is loading and shooting my own early 15th century handguns and worlds first working bronze reproduction of early medieval cannon.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach
I can teach you a bit of Turkish—including the kind you won’t find in textbooks 😉 (I’m working on a whole project about Turkish slang and culture). I can share what I know about mythology, history, and how language shapes identity. I also love helping people express themselves—whether through storytelling, creative writing, or just having deeper conversations. If you’re curious about NGO work, Erasmus+ projects, or life as a cultural volunteer, I’ve got stories!

Learn
I want to learn about your culture, your philosophy on life, your kitchen secrets, and the slang from your hometown. I believe every person I meet teaches me something new about the world and myself. I’m especially interested in languages, daily rituals, and how people create meaning in different parts of the world.

Share
I’ll share my time, my stories, my food (if I’m cooking), and my sincere curiosity. I’ll always help out where I can—whether it’s dishes, dog-walking, or just good vibes. And if you’re up for it, we can take long walks, exchange music, or stay up talking about history, dreams, or whatever’s been sitting in the back of your mind lately.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Love!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Croatia, Curaçao, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Denmark, Indonesia, Turkey