CURRENT MISSION

Teaching as an adjunct professor and working as a part-time post-doctoral researcher while trying to squeeze in as much time for traveling and exploring as I can.

ABOUT ME

I'm a very curious and adventurous person who loves getting in touch with other cultures and, if possible, travel the whole world :) I love to laugh; life is good; and a warm-hearted, honest smile makes all the difference in this world.
I am quite easy going and get along well with people :) - so let's meet, talk, smile, laugh, share and learn from each other!
And yes, I love coconut! Hence the username :)

PHILOSOPHY

Mein Feld ist die Welt! - Go out and explore with curiosity, an open mind and heart, kindness and willingness to learn and challenge own beliefs.
And: Strangers are only friends you haven't met yet! - So true, speaking whole heartedly from my own experience :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've been with couchsurfing since 2007 - initially sharing my profile - and since 2012 with my own - and made only the most wonderful experiences all the way through! CS opens up amazing opportunities to get to know a country and its culture and I have been fortunate enough to meet the most wonderful hosts/surfers, many of which became my good friends. I moved to New York for graduate school and after 5 years in dorm rooms I am finally having a place to myself that allows me to host host :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I couchsurfed since 2008 and it has been a mindblowing journey with countless breathtaking intercultural and interpersonal experiences for which I am and always will be highly grateful. Couchsurfing is an amazing way to get to know a country, its people and the culture! I absolutely love it and cannot understand how someone cannot be part of it :)

Interests

I love trying the untried and getting to know the unknown. Nothing is impossible if you just believe in yourself and try. My motto: You are never sure what you are capable of until you do it!
For me that also resonates strongly with Gandhi's words: Be the change you wish to see in the world! - My mantra that I set out to follow throughout my life.
Love hiking and climbing mountains, learning foreign languages and dances of all sorts, am a passionate singer always eager to hear choirs from around the world and join if I can :), try foreign food and especially cooking :) and of course TRAVELLING which gives me the opportunity to do all this :)

• culture
• dining
• cooking
• traveling
• volunteer work
• hiking
• rock climbing
• business
• languages
• volunteering
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Love Jared Diamond's "Rich and Poor", "Sophie's World", "Eat, Pray, Love"
Adore indi, folk type music and most genuine singer songwriters. Favs are Darlingside, Ballroom Thieves, Noah and the Whale, Glen Hansard and so many more :)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Managed to survive for 6 months in Ibadan, Nigeria - anybody who knows the traffic there understands what I am talking about :) Crossing the main road at New Bodija, Are Junction, comes close to a miracle :)
Docked, sheared and drenched sheep in New Zealand - I should really get a farm and start getting into business :)

Teach, Learn, Share

Sharing experiences is a very valuable thing and couchsurfing makes it possible. I can share lots of stories and things I realized and learned from my travels and volunteer work I did. And I would be most happy to learn from others and their experiences.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Burkina Faso, Germany, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, United States

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