*** WHAT, WHO, AND WHY I AM ***

This is Lovis, also called Suchmann ("Searching man") after my last name.

This man is searching for what? Well, impressions and inspiration, vibes and atmosphere, new friends and acquintances, great experiences and memories.

I haven't done the large-scale travelling thing yet, but I've come around quite a lot in Europe (UK, NL, Belgium, Poland) by now. Currently I like visiting various cities in Germany and Europe, a passion that started about a year ago (March 2014). Outside North-Rhine Westphalia (the area in western Germany where I come from), I have already seen Frankfurt, Würzburg (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Plymouth, Bath, London (UK), Dresden, Leipzig, Hamburg (Germany again) and Eupen (Belgium). This list is not complete, and it will also be expanded in the future.

I'm on Earth because I was born somewhere near my home town Dortmund about 24 years ago. I'm currently studying Technical Communication at RWTH Aachen. You will be able to find out more about me as we meet or if I find time to expand this section even more. ;)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

*** WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY I GO ***

Sometimes I like staying at hostels in foreign cities, but sometimes I prefer catching the vibe of that place by meeting local people. So if you know some secret spots of your town and do not mind sharing: tell me 'bout 'em! Maybe you'd even like to show me around a bit? But if not - I get along on my own as well, of course.

Whenever no foreign city holds me, I'm mostly in Aachen for studying - sometimes, mostly at weekends, I'm going to Dortmund where I come frome and where my band is. So if you need a couch here or there, feel free to ask :) If I have time, I can show you some of my personal "secret spots" of the cities too. (However, if a standard sightseeing tour is what you're after, you might be better off with a pro tour guide ;))

Interests

*** HOW, WHAT FOR, AND WHY I LIVE ***

Biggest interest must be the thing I study, right? Nah! My greatest passion, more than IT, and even more than travelling of any kind, is MUSIC, especially my band. If you haven't heard about a STEELBAND yet - it's a kind of orchestra playing on Caribbean instruments called STEELPANS or STEELDRUMS, oil drums with lots of hammered bulges, each of which is a different note/tone. Check out "Calypsonic" on Facebook and YouTube if you like - you will be highly amazed! (Please excuse the self-praise here. :D)

My profile picture shows my band, having joined a larger Plymouth-based orchestra called "Real Steel" to participate in the "UK Panorama Competition" in 2k14, which is the largest European steelband competition. And by the way, we've won it three times in a row now. (Sorry, I did it again. :D)

Well, I've joined that band nearly ten years ago. Even apart from playing, I've fallen deeply in love with Caribbean music, let it be reggae, dancehall, caiso, calypso, soca etcetera. I've been on several festivals since 2013, too. But other kinds of music like alternative rock (RHCP), metal (Rise Against), classical music (Beethoven's my favourite here) and especially electro swing (CARAVAN PALACE!!!! Must hear!) appeal to me as well. One of my best recent discoveries is The Cat Empire. Check it out if you like. That all said, I'm basically fine with any kind of (good) music.

Another part of me is that nerd-ish guy interested in IT, maths, linguistics and all this systematic, structured stuff. That me likes XKCD and The Oatmeal and spends way too much time reading, watching and searching for nonsense in the internet at night. I even do arrangements for my steelband in some kind of programming language. Don't ask me about further details unless you accept the consequences. ;)

Way more to say about me, feel free to find out if you like in return for some insights into your life story as well! :)

• cats
• festivals
• reading
• traveling
• music
• classical music
• drums
• mathematics
• tourism
• sightseeing

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany