As a kid, I always dreamed of traveling the world.

At first, I thought I’d become an explorer, like Marco Polo – minus the whole ‘gone for years with no emails’ thing (even though I never quite mastered social media either — as you can probably tell from the date on my profile 😅). Later, working for an airline helped me take my first steps, or flights, beyond my home country, Austria, which just happens to be conveniently surrounded by other countries – thanks, Europe! 🫶

Somewhere along the way, I swapped suitcases for a backpack and later on even started to engage in more meaningful ways to travel. Not only do I know how to survive a rat bite in Africa, I also learnt how to survive on questionable street food, and navigate foreign bus systems like a semi-pro. These days, I enjoy traveling in ways that let me actually connect – whether I’m teaching language, getting involved in creative cultural projects (yes, even bridge-building in both senses of the word), or spending hours happily lost in history and art museums. What currently fascinates me most are places where culture isn’t just celebrated but actively used as a tool for transformation – like in Capitals of Culture or in mental health initiatives that use art to process trauma and reconnect people with themselves and others.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

I believe CS is still one of the best ways to connect with other travelers and local people. I like its spontaneous approach.

Now, some years after the pandemic and travel restrictions, I re-started my CS journey with a travel duck (Insta: davoud_safarys_travel_duck) and am happy to share and exchange travel experiences! Recently at a CS meeting in Rajasthan I had the joy to do so with some Indian friends: https://youtu.be/G_s99dCOgwM

兴趣

How would I describe myself?

Well, according to my colleagues, I’m intellectual – hey, but not in a boring way – and I’ve got a pretty decent sense of humor (their words, not mine).

Just to clear things up:
🇦🇹 I’m from Austria, not Australia 🇦🇺
(though I wouldn’t have minded growing up with kangaroos in the backyard).
🗣️ I speak „Deutsch“ (=German), not Dutch
(though the language of the Netherlands is equally impressive of course).
🌍 Austria's neighbor is Switzerland🇨🇭 not Sweden 🇸🇪. And no, not Samoa! 🇼🇸
(but I happily visited all of them as passionate world traveler).
🫶 I’m passionate about language, culture, and making sure no one confuses Vienna with Venice ever again (even though my profile picture is indeed taken in Venice because Marco Polo's couch was located there – so much for intercultural communication) 😂

• arts
• books
• meditation
• backpacking
• teaching
• languages
• volunteering
• english
• german
• resilience
• mental health awareness
• hiking in the mountains

音乐、电影和书籍

I like music, films and literature where friendship is portrayed and give an inspirational boost for being joyful and maintaining inner strength.

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

During my time in Bamiyan, South Asia’s First Cultural Capital, I was fortunate to be involved in academic projects focusing on art, culture, and language — an experience that deepened both my understanding and appreciation of the region’s rich heritage. It felt like a dream come true — as if I were retracing the footsteps of travelers from centuries past. And it was there that my traveler’s name Davoud Safary took shape — rooted in a journey that was as much about inner growth as it was about geography. Thank you all you wonderful people! 🫶

教，学，和分享

Cultural Capitals like Bogura offer a unique chance to resonate with histories and perspectives beyond my own. So I’ll be happy to connect with the travel crowd!

我可以与沙发主分享些什么

🗣️ I teach professionally both German and English, depending on where I am and what’s needed.

我游览过的国家

Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, England, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State