Hi.

A little bit about myself/Why I am here:

I‘m Petra, currently living in Vienna and also in a little town in Upper Austria (Bad Ischl). Hoping to travel for a few months this winter.

I am open to meeting and sometimes hosting people.

When it comes to hosting, I nearly exclusively want to host woman/girls, as I only have a shared room, and even tough there is some privacy I just feel saver that way.

I am especially interested in meeting people, who have lived in different countries and also worked while traveling.

Also I am interested in Minimalism and a more simple way of live.

When I am hosting /meeting ppl I like to show them around in my favourite locations of the city, go for a hike, maybe go to a Stand up Comedy Show, maybe visit another interesting event, or just chill at home, cook something and maybe play a board game.

I’d like to host people, who want to spend some time together, but also can be independent.

I would describe myself as a quiet person, I enjoy reading, to be in nature and go hiking, and to learn new things (f. I. new languages (Spanish, Italian).

I'm interested in art, sports, philosophy, good books and delicious food (foodie).

I love to seize the day, be spontaneous and explore places off the beaten track.

PHILOSOPHY Some sentences that inspire me/ I try to live like this:
"My freedom ends, where your freedom begins"
„
„Follow your ❤️, but take your 🧠 with you“

„Be especially kind to people, who don't receive so much kindness. If you have got something nice to say - say it!“

„Regret is worser than rejection“

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am here to connect with inspiring people. I like to learn from other perspectives. I love to see places in other countries that most tourist dont ever get to see. I want to eat the food that the locals eat, preferably in restaurants that are not touristy.

I get inspired by different lifestyles, dreams and ideas.

I am so grateful to have met some likeminded people here and that I have found some true friends. I love the spirit of CS!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I met and stayed with people in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Albania, Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, India, Nepal and Honduras.

I hosted some people and I will continue doing that, now that I have the possibility again.

But as I wrote before, I am tired of generic copy-paste requests, where it’s very clear that the other person is not interested in me as a person at all, but just in a free place to stay.

At the moment I don’t feel like staying somewhere with a host, bIt I think that will change again.

Also I‘m definitely interested in meeting people. Even more so if it involves some interesting activity, like doing a little excursion to some place.

Interests

trekking, trying new things (food), sports, reading ,listen to good music, watching good movies, improving my skills as a speaker, personal growth (at least I am trying to become a better person)

• writing
• literature
• photography
• acting
• coffee
• fitness
• traveling
• painting
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• art
• foodie
• exploring new places
• self-development
• spanish language
• nature walks
• leadership
• off the beaten path
• passive income
• queer culture

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies I like: "Bridges of Madison County", "Some like it Hot", "Out of Africa", "He is just not that into you", " Love and other Drugs", "Pulp Fiction", "Beeing John Malkovich", "The Pianist"

Books I've read and loved: Everything written by David Sedaris, Isabel Allende, Tess Gerritsen and some books of Paolo Coelho (11 Minues, Veronica decides to die). I love "The Fault in our Stars" by John Greene, "The Perfume" by Patrick Süskind , "Papillon", "The Reader" by Bernhard Schlink, "Kiss Kiss" by Roald Dahl, "Trotzdem Ja zum Leben sagen" by Viktor Frankl..... "Khaleid Hosseini" is also a great writer...

I really love to read and I am so happy when I find inspiring good books, there are not so many of them, if you have any recommendations for me, I'd be very grateful.

Bands and Songwriters I like: Adele, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Saint Privat, Bruce Springsteen, Amy Winehouse, Nouvelle Vague, Ayo, Imany, Feist, Mana, Nathalia Lafourcade, Metronomy, Mercedes Sosa, Elefante

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

*Exploring Ankor Wat by bike.

*Meeting wonderful people in Colombia and spending a week with them.

*Laughing so hard that my abs hurt the whole next day.

*Trekking to a Lagoon close to Chachapoyas, Peru, where only 120 people anually go to (3 days, 40km a day)

*Having a few "Aha-moments* during my travels.

*Getting a better traveler with each trip.

*Learning that being alone is much better, than being with the wrong people.
.
*Getting inspired by wonderful humans I met on my travels.

*Hiking in Annapurna, Nepal (you really don’t need a guide there)

*Seeing people, who dont have much material possesions, being really humble, generous and seemingly more happy than most people in "rich" countries.

*Hiking to remote villages in Oaxaca (Mexico), staying at people‘s houses (there were no hotels or restaurants of other tourists.)

Teach, Learn, Share

LEARN:
NEW PROJECTS:

* Quiero practicar mi español.

* I have a pattern of people pleasing which I want to learn to manage better. Actually I would like to learn to be an a-hole sometimes (when dealing with a-holes…)

* I want to use Workaway, to work on different projects during my trips- if you have used it- tell me about your experiences please. :)

TEACH:
I think I have learned a thing or two on my solo trips.
Here are my

TOP TRAVEL TIPS :

1.) PACK LIGHT- Just bring hand luggage, moving around will be so much easier.

2.) GO WITH THE FLOW- Don‘t plan ahead too much. Once you get to the location, just ask the people you meet, they will give you the best info about places to see, things to do etc... Keep your options open, stay flexible. Don’t book ahead more that necessary (one flight, first night in a hotel) - You don‘t know what will FEEL right for you in 10 days from now. (That‘s also why I avoid booking flights, if I can also travel by train, bike, foot, boat or bus)

3.) LISTEN TO YOUR GUT- If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. (If you get a weird vibe from a person, better stay alone) This is especially important for the woman out there (also on CS!!!)

4.) GO SLOW- don’t rush from one sight to another-experience/feel more.

5.) GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS - You might learn something. How do they live? What are their values? Couchsurfing is a great way to do that. When you use Couchsurfing: Invest some time to find a good host. Only if you have a good gut-feeling about someone’s profile, write them. I always had good experiences when I used that technique.

6.) DIY - Avoid taking tours. You will just have a super-touristy experience. Find out which bus to take or rent a bicycle. For hiking just use „maps.me“ (App)

7.) LISTEN TO THE JOY, NOT TO THE FEAR. If you get in your head, take 5 DEEEEEEP breaths. Do something else. Go to nature. Don’t take decisions from that mindset of fear! (What if I fall? But, Baby, what if you fly.... ;))

What I Can Share with Hosts

We can exchange travel-tipps/experiences. We can have good conversations and amazing food together. I'm very open to what you are going to show and tell me about you country. I love to spend time with my hosts, but I am also independent.

I had some wonderful hosts and I am grateful, that some of them have been an inspiration to me.

Haha, and I've been an inspiration to some of them to live more healthy and work out - which makes me very happy.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria