I am a Dutchie living in Eindhoven, in the south part of the Netherlands.

A motivated and ambitious person who wants to travel around the world. Traveling opens your eyes and it a great way to learn about life, culture, nature and history. Since a couple of years I am trying to live more conscious. I am involved in a youth network, enabling youngsters to develop themselves. By learning how to understand yourself and how to understand complex systems. To explain it more simple: acting by heart instead of only by head.

I am easy going and open minded. I like to learn new things and get new experiences. Always happy and trying to be spontaneous.

I guess I can call myself a 'foodie'. Food is passion. It is so interesting how food can influence our health and well-being. But it is not only about nutrition, food is also interwoven in cultures, social activities, economy and the environment. Food connects people.

Please note that I don't live in city center. It's 40 min walk or 15 min with bike or bus. Also, if you want to stay with me to catch a plane from the Airport be aware that there are no early buses going to the airport from my place and it takes 1 hour. During the week from 6:00, on saturday from 7:40 and sunday 8:30.

PHILOSOPHY

The glass is not only half full, but also the other half was delicious!

Always believe in yourself, everything is possible.

Sharing is caring.

Living life to the fullest.

Just a smile or a giving a compliment can make someones else day better/happier. So next time you see someone: smile of say something nice.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because it's the amazing way of traveling: fun, personal, interesting. I like the idea of sharing. meeting people and having a good time together. It gives a whole different dimension on traveling. That is also what I like about WorkAway, what I am doing as well. It is always more fun to do things together and to really interact. Going on holiday is so much more than only seeing things.

I started Couchsurfing when I was traveling around in Australia. I have so many good memories, stories and laughs. My first host showed me an amazing restaurant where people pay what they want and that offers a place for refugees and people with a distance to the labor market. I ended up working there as a volunteer for a short while. The place is really inspiring.

Couchsurfing is for me a way to meet people and see the world through different eyes. Please send a personal request, so that I know you have read my profile. You don't have to be liked minded, but just showing a bit of effort in requesting a place to stay.

Interests

I love to cook and bake, from various cuisines to pies and cakes. Mostly I experiment with cooking, trying to make it on a different (healthier) way of try out new ingredients. Currently I am experencing with fermentation. I also like to cook vegetarian and vegan food, although I do eat meat and fish so now and then.

So now and then I cook together with friends or organized a shared dinner. It is so nice to eat together. I enjoy a good boardgame too.

I also played the euphonium (small tuba) in a fanfare. I started with it when I was a young girl and I still like it very much. Unfortunately now it is not possible for me to play in the fanfare, but I hope to start it again in the future.

Lately, I joined a rowing club. It is great fun and actually a very relaxing sport (well only if you row on a slow speed, like me). I also try to do some running.

• cooking
• traveling
• history
• world
• nature
• life
• reading books
• healthy food
• boardgames

Music, Movies, and Books

I don't have one favourite music, movie or book. I like a bit of everything.

I prefer movies with a good story and good acting and not to much glitter, glamour or overdone. A few of my favourite movies 'Avatar', 'The Green Mile', 'The World Fastest Idian', Millennium Triologie' etc. I am not really a big fan of horror and comedies.

About my favourite music. I like movie soundtracks, orchestral music (that doesn't have to be classic) and the band Dream Theater. But I am always open to new music. Anyway, I love to listen to music and relax. Without music, running would have been much more difficult for me.

I read many books (I like to read) and I enjoy true stories or detectives, 'Memories of a Geisha', 'Annika Bengtzon series', 'De moeder van David S' (Dutch book), 'Het huis aan de Moskee (Dutch). I also like to read more informative books about life.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Life in general is amazing, I cannot describe it in one thing.

One of the coolest things I have done in vacancies was canoeing down the river through the mountains. It was a really special experience.

When I turned 18 did some volunteer work in Roemenia. The first experience that really opened my eyes. I would never thaught there is so much poverty withing Europe. Things we take for granted are not that normal everywhere.

Of course my trip to Australia :-). That was an unforgettable journey of almost 2 years. I cannot describe this adventure in just a few words. I have so many good memories and experiences. Only the fact that I was traveling around on the other side of the world in my own sweet old little car and just could sleep in my car wherever there was a nice spot to stay overnight. A kind of couchsurfing in my own car ;).

Some of my amazing experience
- Snorkeling in the Whitsundays to see the colourful life under water. I opened my mound of astonishment, forgetting that I was under water and came sputtering upwards to the surface :)
- Watching sunset in the outback.
- Milking cows, working with bees, picking rasberrys, harvesting potatoes and all the other little jobs I did.
- All the boat tours to see the crocodiles. I could not get enough of it.
- Making a helicopter flight above the glaciers.

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More recently

Helping with local projects Tanzania including camping with Masaai village and teaching on a evening school

Working as volunteer on a scoutcamp at Bohinj lake in Slovenia

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share my knowledge about food and nutrition. I am a dietitien, so I can give advice about healthy eating and cooking.

I can teach you to make your own yogurt, sauerkraut and appel vinigar. Everyone can do it and it healthy too! I am interesting to learn more fermentation techniques and other recipes.

A nice home cooked meal.

There are so many things I want to learn: speaking another languages, brewing beer, climbing mountains and the list can go own.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A good conversation and laughs. Cooking a meal. A good time.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Tanzania

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Netherlands