We are a married couple (with a two young children [five and three, respectively]) that loves to travel, experience new places, and meet new people. We don't see borders and believe that the whole of humanity is innately good.

We want to spend our time on this planet working for the greater good (people AND environment), and we love to learn, share, and have new experiences.

Ashley is originally from the US and lived in Germany for about 4,5 years. Thereafter we lived in the Bilbao area of Spain for 14 months. We now live in Zug, Switzerland.

Previously she lived in Guatemala and Colombia in addition to her native USA. She is an avid reader, enjoys writing, cooking, traveling, connecting with other people, photography, learning, and creating great memories.

Florian is German, is currently working as lead spec engineer, and enjoys learning, exploring, dancing, adventuring, and meeting new people. He also enjoys music, intellectual conversation, climbing, and a good frisbee game.

"Charlie" is sweet, attentive, engaging, enjoys a good book, and likes to see new things. She's keen on finding a good beat and dancing to it, coloring in her coloring books, and is always ready to play ball.

"Niko" is a kind, lovely soul who likes to flip through books, have "dance parties", run around in nature, and far more independent than most three-year-olds.

We are car-free and bike virtually everywhere.

Fun Story: We actually met through Couchsurfing in 2015, and ended up getting married in May of 2016!

PHILOSOPHY

Viaggiare é vivere = To travel is to live (in Italian)

What is life without travel? Or adventure? Or learning? Or people with whom to share memories?

Pourquoi je suis sur Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

(Ashley): I have been hosting since January 2009 and plan on continuing the hosting! I try and tell others about just how wonderful CS is and how the people you meet will make you really think and further inspire the beauty of travel.

I'm also involved CS meet-ups- meetings make you aware of your community and attending meetings whilst traveling opens doors, creates memories, and connects you to the pulse of travelers you may have never known otherwise. Even when I have CS hosts, I like to meet other CSers along the way.

PLEASE WRITE US A PERSONAL MESSAGE! If you're not willing to take the time to read our profile and write a personal message, then we're not willing to invite you into our home. A virtual rapport has to start somewhere!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

(Ashley): I've done a healthy mix of surfing and hosting, but a bit more surfing lately. I did some surfing during my six weeks in Europe- meeting some people who have already transitioned into friends! My European hosts were wonderful and I look forward to getting situated at some point so I can host more!

Have connected with Surfers on three continents, I look forward to surfing more whilst living in Europe. I especially want to start hosting again!

Centres d'intérêt

(Ashley): Traveling, writing, photography, learning new languages, environmental activism, creating awareness about the interconnectedness of the world, climatology, meteorology, astronomy, geology, quantum mechanics, synchronicity, music, movies, sports/outdoor activities, hiking, cycling, cultivating my own food, meeting new people, trying new things, learning-(both in school and out), living life and getting the most out of it.

• culture
• humanities
• writing
• photography
• beauty
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• drinking
• politics
• movies
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• surfing
• sports
• astronomy
• ecology
• geography
• geology
• languages
• science
• tourism

Morceaux de musique, films et livres

(Ashley): Top MOVIES include: The Year My Parents Went on Vacation, Diarios de Motocicleta (or The Motorcycle Diaries), Fight Club, Snatch, Green Street Hooligans, The Boondock Saints, The Edukators, Atonement, Lilja 4-Ever, and Office Space.

MUSIC: Muse, Andres Cepeda, Jorge Drexler, Royksopp, Gustavo Santaolalla, Reik, DJ Serg, Glitch Mob, Swisher, Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Boris Brejcha, Hybrid, Uppermost, Anugama, and others-- anything but country and some rap/hip hop.

BOOKS: Brave New World, Childhood's End, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Brave New World Revisited, Ender's Game, Catch-22, As I Lay Dying, Neruda's poems, Frost's poems, ANY Classic English or "American" literature (save for Wuthering Heights and Age of Innocence. Ugh.) Plus and travel, photography, geopolitical, historical/biographical nonfiction, natural science, and language books.

Une aventure extraordinaire que j'ai vécue

(Ashley): Traveled to Colombia four times, and completed an "overview trip" of Europe (ten countries in six weeks).

I "woke up" in my early twenties and knew that living in the US was a joke. I didn't want to play my "part" in the capitalist scheme there and opted for an international life. Since early 2013, I've only been in the US for about seven or eight months.

Getting to know people and places on an international level have made me a more understanding, compassionate, and humble being. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities I've experienced. I can honestly say, I am looking forward to creating more exciting things!

Enseignez, apprenez, partagez

(Ashley): Graduated from a conventional university with a degree in Liberal Studies, and just graduated with a MFA in Creative Writing. I'm studying Spanish, German, French, Danish, Turkish, Italian, and Russian on my own and through my travels. I like to get out in the world and make that my classroom. I am a freelance writer and photographer looking forward to more traveling as the kids get older.

I have visited 36 US States

Ce que j'aimerais partager avec mes hôtes

We are excited to cultivate new relationships with our hosts, to learn about the local culture, explore places that most tourists don't see, and truly experience the places we visit!

(Ashley): I'm a huge fan of cooking for my hosts! I tend to create with what is available and/or local and in season. I'm clean and respectful of the home space, can keep to myself if the host is busy, but [naturally] would love to spend at least one outing with my host seeing something that most "tourists" don't get to see.

I also enjoy practicing languages, sharing stories, and creating lasting friendships. This is a great way to see the world on the cheap, but more than that, it's about really connecting with your fellow human being... and taking that friendship beyond the physical time with them. Some of my most dear friends are people that I don't see very often, but we met through CS and I am so happy to have them as a part of my existence.

Pays que j'ai visités

Austria, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Pays dans lesquels j'ai vécu

Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, Spain, Switzerland, United States

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