ABOUT ME

Double vaccinated for covid and have proof of recovery as well. Last negative PCR test was on Dec 29th.

I'm a pretty easy-going, low maintenance kinda person, but I don't like bullshit. I'm mostly an introvert but I really enjoy getting to know new people and learning how other people think and live.

"I do not consider myself less ignorant than most people. I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books. I have begun to listen to the teachings my blood whispers to me. My story is not a pleasant one; it is neither sweet nor harmonious, as invented stories are; it has the taste of nonsense and chaos, of madness and dreams - like the lives of all men who stop deceiving themselves." - Herman Hesse.

Some background info: I live in The Netherlands but was born in Scotland. I grew up in lots of places and now I have no idea what to call home but that's fine.
My interests are many, and I tend to like peculiar things more so than common things. Music's a big part of my life. And in music the previous statement rings just as true.

I was raised as a vegetarian but have been sort of straddling the line between vegetarianism and veganism for the past 10 years.

I have been living in Wageningen for the past 8 years, first to study, then I tried to start an NGO around ecosystem restoration education and promotion and the last 1.5 years I have been working as a research assistant for a young environmental data science organisation. My favourite tasks include storytelling as I am fascinated by communication and what influences people, particularly relating to environmental concerns. Why do people make such a mess of things..?

I also help a bit with the Let's Talk About Yes action group by Amnesty that works to promote awareness and understanding of the importance of consent.

PHILOSOPHY

"Vaar op eigen kompas."

Roughly translated: "Follow your own compass/course." It's a motto given to me on a stitching at birth.

Other than that I'm largely influenced by Buddhism.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've hosted a few times when I lived in Utrecht. I've kept in touch with some people - though mostly people who hosted me in the US and Scotland.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first experience was a couchsurfing meeting in Utrecht in 2009. Then I did nothing for 2 years until I finally got off my ass and flew to the US West Coast. There I surfed in Portland, met a lot of CS-ers and a day in San Francisco. The things that made the largest impression on me are without a doubt the amazing people I've met and I hope to meet far more people through CS!

Interests

• culture
• books
• vegetarian
• vegan
• movies
• reading
• music
• philosophy
• nature
• tv series
• permaculture
• buddhism

Music, Movies, and Books

Until late 2018 I played in an instrumental postrock band called Shunyata (shunyata.bandcamp.com) and listened to similar music, like Mogwai, MaybeSheWill, Cult of Luna etc.
But I love a lot of different kinds of music, including punk, funk, rock, but also concert music, blues, jazz, some hiphop, dubstep, drum & bass and so on. I've learnt to have an open mind in regards to music and also to keep my ears open to find interesting sounds even in non-musical occurrences.

I like the typical kinds of movies. Monty Python, Tarantino, random samurai and zombie films... y'know. And series like Rick & Morty, Dark, Orange is the new Black, The Witcher, etc.

Im a slow reader but currently I'm reading Polysecure by Jessica Fern. I have a lot of books, mostly about environmental things, Buddhism, feminism, philosophy and politics and psychology.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sat in a camper with a pack of lionesses walking around us or laying on the road in Kruger park, South Africa.

Being a farm intern at a little permaculture oasis in the SoCal desert. Can't even begin to describe everything I've been through out there!

Struggled through an internship for 5 months in India.

Teach, Learn, Share

For some years I gave talks about the basics of Buddhism and gave guided meditations at a student-to-student kinda thing, so I could do that. I can also teach some things about music, permaculture and some aspects of psychology.

Also I make great veg(etari)an burritos!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Gezelligheid and curiosity and lots of stories!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Gabon, India, Netherlands, Scotland, United States

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