Hey! My name is Zuhra, and I'm from the Republic of Bashkortostan, located in Eurasia.
Currently, I'm participating in an Au Pair program in Germany, where I help a German host family with their children and study the German language. Since it's not my own place, I’m not always in a position to offer accommodation.

Additionally, I work remotely as a manager for a museum in my hometown, Ufa. I don’t create artworks myself, but I help artists organize exhibitions for their creations. It’s not always easy to do this remotely, but I’m glad to have the opportunity. I’d be happy to introduce you to the activities of my museum if you’re interested.

I’m a fairly quiet person—I don’t drink or smoke. But it doesn't mean that I'm not talkative.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

My family rarely traveled and they weren't even abroad, but as you can see, I made a small exception. I really like visiting new places! My way of traveling is to learn words in a local language, taste local food, be inspired by national clothes and music. And the most important thing is to communicate with the people who live in this place! It is through communication with local people that you can easily catch the vibe of this place.

In 2022, I traveled twice using Couchsurfing, but I wasn’t very active on my account as I traveled with a friend using her account, so I don’t have any reviews.

Music, Movies, and Books

Cartoons: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Gravity Falls, Infinity Train, Over the Garden Wall, Soul.
Serials/ Movies: Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, Dark, Anne with an E.
Books: War and Peace, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies.
Music: it's hard to describe, it's either calm music or popular music from my childhood (2007-2015) :)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was an exchange student in China in 2022. I spent six months in quarantine and couldn't go out into the city. I made Russian pies and buckwheat for my foreign friends when we lived together in a dorm. It was fun!

Before flying home, I took a walk alone at night in Shanghai. All my friends were scared because it was still covid time in China and were afraid to miss the plane. Would I repeat that? Well... after living locked up for a few months in another country, probably yes

Teach, Learn, Share

If you go to Finland, I advise you to try licorice and salmiaki, and in China try hotpot, in Russia go to Bashkiria and try the most natural honey and horse milk!

ARGYMAK - ethno-rock band from Bashkiria. You will learn how the Bashkir language sounds :)

Pää, olkapää, peppu, polvet varpaat - this song is included by all Finnish teachers in the lesson, it's about body parts in Finnish. Sounds funny to me. If you have a desire to hear Finnish, then go ahead!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I know how to play the national Bashkir instrument - kubyz. The Finnish and german kids were delighted, I think you would too.

I like to find all sorts of recipes (but I don't cook that often), so I can share my best recipes. Have you tried Dalgone coffee? Have you ever made your own marshmallow? What about a delicious chicken pie?

I can also share information about ESC (a program from Erasmus), according to which young people can travel to different countries and be independent at the same time.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Finland, Germany, Russian Federation