I've lived abroad for almost as long as I lived in Germany growing up. I'm currently back in Germany after some time abroad and am hoping to make some international connections.

CURRENT MISSION

Finding a way to travel to practice the languages I speak.
And finding a place to live closeby the mountains for my second big passion: hiking!

Discovering the world of mindfulness and personal development and becoming a better person, growing every day!

ABOUT ME

I love to live and experience the world. Learning languages and connecting with people in different cultures is my life elixir.

Coincidence (and the more than awesome website 'workaway' made me an ESL teacher (teaching English to foreigners)). Through this job I worked in Japan for over 2 years and in Canada for 1.5 years. After that, I went on a trip to South America that turned into 14 months. Something made me return to my home country just before the pandemic hit. And I'm still here. Trying to see what it's like to live in my own country as an adult (as I left when I was 18). It's been an experience! I'm living by the lake Constance and it's gorgeous here! Can only recommend visiting it!

PHILOSOPHY

The world is big and small at the same time.

There will always be many unexpected opportunities opening up if you're just patient enough to let them come to you.

Every person you meet can teach you something amazing!

The more simple you live the happier you can be
When I lived in Japan we had an earthquake warning and I had to take what I could with me, I noticed all I grabbed was my passport, my phone and my wallet - nothing else really mattered...

I'm an extroverted introvert - I enjoy company but I need my own time to recover from socializing.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first couchsurfing experience was in Japan when visiting a friend at his couchsurfing host's place and spontaneously ended up staying there as well. Met amazing people to hang out there and wanted to continue this.
Have thus couchsurfed a few places and been to couchsurfing meetings - which was a great experience (and once even resulted in finding my future host in Bangkok :)
I like joining any cs events as well.

Please note that I don't accept friend requests if I don't know you. I only accept requests with people I'd call up for a spontaneous coffee ;)

Also couchsurfing is not a dating website but a place for making meaningful international connections. Keep that in mind when you contact me. Don't just send me a line, 'Hi do you wanna be friends'. Tell me why you're interested in my profile.

Mention the word 'nattokimchi' when you write to me - that way I know you read my profile :P

Interests

see my mission :)

• dancing
• ballet dancing
• dining
• recipes
• baking
• japanese food
• meditation
• traveling
• hiking
• camping
• freelancing
• languages
• nature
• personal development
• mindfulness
• coaching
• modern dance
• non-materialism

Music, Movies, and Books

am open for all kind of music (It depends on your mood I think)
- indie is my favorite genre, also folk-indie, pop-indie, indie rock .. just indie :)
- I like soundtracks as well
- when going to karaoke I will find some more upbeat mainstream songs to make everyone join me :D (I love the private karaoke rooms they have in Asia!)
- classical music from time to time (I grew up being surrounded by classical music every day and still love it)

always have a book with me wherever I go (much better at times than just checking your phone :) (update: I have to admit kindle is a great option though)

books/authors:
- Haruki Murakami - Kafka on the Shore (and many more books)
- Paolo Coelho, especially The Alchemist
- Ink heart by Cornelia Funke (a German fantasy trilogy that I can highly recommend!!!)

Movies:
Honestly, I'm not really interested in movies. Watching TV is a waste of time for me (I do love Youtube for quick entertainment though!)

some movies I have actually enjoyed: Inception, Brokeback Mountain, Untouchables (French movie), some old Audrey Hepburn movies, Howl's moving castle (especially the Ghibli soundtracks), Inception....,

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

travelling all around New-Zealand - every corner is a paradise for a nature lover like me - have never felt so much bliss!

Australia: the beginning of my urge to travel the world

the cultural variety in Asia - there are so many things to discover everyday!

....getting invited by monks to join their 'after-ceremony' dinner and drinks

...getting invited by a women in a tiny shack in Myanmar to join her for tea

living in Paris - city of my dreams even with all its flaws

experiencing the real countryside life in Japan: mochimaki (ceremony of throwing rice cakes), harvesting rice, local festivals, hitting the rhythm of the big drum for the dancers at a local festival, participating in tea ceremonies, visiting private temples, eating at a restaurant in the middle of the forest where you catch the fish they are going to prepare for you

Starting a trip to Brazil, turning it into 14 months of traveling all around South-America, something I had never planned!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm German but I'm fluent in English, conversational in French, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian and Japanese. I love teaching languages to other people, so I'm happy to share my knowledge.

I can also share a lot of experiences about travelling. I have traveled by myself to over 40 countries in Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa (only South Africa though). You're welcome to listen to my stories :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

stories about life
an open ear for your stories ;)
recipes from around the world (I love baking and making Korean food)

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain