About Me

Hey! I’m Cemal, living in Turkey and always excited to meet people from different backgrounds. I studied International Trade & Logistics and now run our family business.

Travel has played a big role in my life. I lived in Brighton, Moscow, and Shanghai for language studies. In 2018, I did an Erasmus exchange in Poland. These experiences helped me develop an open-minded perspective and a passion for cultural exchange.

Photography has been a hobby of mine since I was 15. I love capturing moments from my travels and sharing them through my blog. Exploring new places, especially big cities, excites me. However, I also enjoy nature—my trip to Iceland remains one of my most unforgettable experiences, and I can’t wait to go back!

People often describe me as disciplined, social, and very loyal to my friends. I enjoy both well-planned trips and spontaneous adventures, as long as there’s good company and meaningful conversations.

I have a strong interest in languages. I speak Turkish (native) and English (advanced), along with intermediate Russian and basic Chinese.

My Instagram: @cemallguness

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

meeting new people, exchanging cultures, and making connections while traveling. Couchsurfing allows me to connect with locals, learn about their way of life, and experience a city beyond just being a tourist.

Interests

Travel, photography, blogging, business & international trade, learning new languages, making friends around the world, different cultures, history, music, books, cinema, road trips, and deep conversations.

• drinking
• traveling
• cycling
• swimming
• business
• food
• chatting

Music, Movies, and Books

I love listening to music, especially when it takes me on a journey. I enjoy it the most during long solo road trips.

I listen to a variety of genres. In Turkish music, I like rock, pop, and folk, with Ahmet Kaya being my all-time favorite. Among international artists, I really love Adele, and I also enjoy Coldplay and OneRepublic. Reggaeton is one of my favorites—it’s so energetic! I also listen to American pop, and I have a special playlist for Russian songs that I find really interesting.

When it comes to books, I love world classics and authors like George Orwell, Paulo Coelho, Dan Brown, Leo Tolstoy, Victor Hugo, and Gogol. I also enjoy Turkish literature, with Oğuz Atay and Sabahattin Ali being among my favorite writers. Besides novels, I like reading personal development books as well.

As for movies and TV shows, I’m a big fan of Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino films. Inception, Interstellar, and The Prestige are some of my favorites. I also appreciate Turkish cinema, especially the works of Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Zeki Demirkubuz. And of course, I enjoy a good comedy too!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Before moving to Poland for my Erasmus exchange, my friends and I planned an Iceland trip. For most of them, it was their first time traveling abroad, so the excitement was real! Just two weeks after arriving in Poland, we found ourselves in Iceland, ready for an unforgettable adventure.

On our first night, we stayed in an Airbnb in Keflavík and even walked from the airport to our place. The next day, we picked up our rental car and explored the famous Golden Circle. We witnessed breathtaking waterfalls, soaked in hot rivers, and, most memorably, saw the northern lights dancing above us. It was a surreal experience—one that I’ll never forget.

I even wrote a blog post about this journey and shared a vlog on YouTube!
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Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you some basics of the Turkish language and share insights about Turkish culture, history, and daily life. Since I have experience living in different countries, I can also share my thoughts on cultural differences and adapting to new environments.

I’d love to improve my Russian and learn more about different cultures and perspectives. If you have an interesting life story or a unique way of seeing the world, I’d love to hear it!

I can also share my experiences in photography and blogging. If you’re into travel photography or content creation, we might have a lot to talk about!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share conversations about travel, culture, and different perspectives. I’d be happy to introduce Turkish culture, traditions, and cuisine. Also, if you’re into photography or blogging, we can exchange ideas.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, England, Poland, Russian Federation