Welcome to my profile :)

My name is Yusuf, I am 27 years old, born and raised in Germany, used to work as a consultant and now as a freelance german and english teacher whilst travelling the world on a small budget.

Currently I am on my second visit to SEA and I am looking to explore the south after having been to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam etc. My main travel destinations will be Malaysia, Indonesia and Timor-Leste. I am planning on documenting my travels in order to share them with the world as this way my dream before I pursued a corporate career. If you don't want to be on camera, that is perfectly fine just let me know.

Generally, I am an easy-going, open-minded individual. I believe we are all made from the same essence and try to express my gratefulness for existing in any way that I can. Helping people and being useful is my biggest passion in life, I'd like to use the skills and knowledge I have been privileged enough to acquire to improve the lives of others in whichever way possible. I love to be active and out in nature whenever I am not working, or simply exploring some local spots and good local food that you won't find with a quick google search.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love travelling and purposefully made the choice to have less of an income but more flexibility and freedom. It is not a secret that many travellers use CS to save some money so I'm not going to tell you some blatant lie as if that is not one of my motives. However, I am interested in the local culture of any place that I go to, rather than the touristy hotspots a simple google search will you tell about. From my experience. CS is ideal for getting in touch with natives to the place that will be able to give you a unique insight into the customs and traditions of any given place and make for a much more immersive experience than say a guided tour.

Intercultural exchange is crucial for me on my travels as I am constantly looking to expand and further my horizon, I'd love to learn and teach in return essentially.

Interests

love basketball, being outside (as long as the weather is cooperating), reading and discussing everything that is good and bad with the world we live in. Would describe myself as a cautious optimist. Also down for the occasional drink although I stopped consuming alcohol regularly a while back. And I have found a new passion for hiking and mountains in particular :) As well as video editing!

Furthermore I am a geek for One Piece (have been watching it since I was three years old and reading weekly for about 10 years).

• writing
• books
• fitness
• hiking
• basketball
• anthropology
• philosophy
• bars
• one piece

Music, Movies, and Books

Musica: Bossa Nova, City Pop de Japon (80's), Rock Nacional, Salsa

Peliculas: The Shawshank Redemption, Fight Club
Libros: Marcus Aurelius - Meditations
Franz Kafka - Metamorphosis
Goethe - Faust
Rene Descartes - Meditations
Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist (El mejor libro!!)
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Idiot

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

On my last trip in Central America, I was rescued by a small puppy that found me at the beginning of a volcano hike. He would not stop following me and essentially forced my hand to take him with me, so I brought him back to Germany with me all the way from Guatemala and he is now living happily over there with my family.

That was by far the most challenging and amazing experience I ever made in my life and it taught me more about myself and life in general than I could have experienced in a thousand lifetimes.

Teach, Learn, Share

I speak 5 languages fluently, two of which I actively teach professionally, so I'd be more than happy to teach you some if you'd like. Furthermore I believe I have a unique and interesting approach to life that might be interesting or inspiring to somebody.

Also I really enjoy cooking for others and sharing a piece of the local cuisine I grew up with wherever I go (provided the right ingredients are available) :)

Again, intercultural exchange is key for me and I believe exchanging ideas, thoughts, customs can create powerful bonds that may last for an eternity.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good conversations, language practice and intercultural exchange. I might even tell you about my homeplanet if I feel a vibe :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Laos, Malta, Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Spain, Thailand