Ellen Van Himbergen's Photo

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Wants to Meet Up

  • Last login about 8 years ago

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Overview

  • 32 references 24 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in Dutch, English; learning Amharic, French, German, Spanish, Swedish
  • 39, Female
  • Member since 2008
  • International Development Cooperation
  • master in International Politics
  • No hometown listed
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

Enjoy the moment!

ABOUT ME

I don't like planning long in advance and I therefore prefer to only host last minute or at least not make any commitments more than 1 week in advance. I'm not into touristy stuff, but I do enjoy spending time with my guests (after work or in the weekend) by hanging out by the river, in summer bars or in my little courtyard, checking out nice bars, going to music festivals, etc. I live on average 6km away from these places, so be prepared to use a bycicle! :-)

I am happy and no-nonsense girl. I love travelling, exploring, meeting people from all over the world, learning new languages, find out funny habits, trying new food, etc.

After my bachelor studies, I took a 3 year break where I combined crappy jobs in Belgium with long travels in Latin America. Afterwards I combined my masters with a very nice job where I worked with international students, mainly from developing countries. Nowadays, I got a "real job", but I also like it a lot. I commute between Antwerp and Brussels, which means I spend 11 to 12 hrs per day being away for work. Just so you know. Of course I like to enjoy and to take most out of the limited remaining time.

PHILOSOPHY

Embrace life, live with no regrets. Be nice to other people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting couchsurfers makes me feel like I'm still travelling a bit while I'm home. I especially enjoy hosting long term travellers, who are a bit crazy and go with the flow.

I receive many requests, but I only host once in a while. So maybe try to send a convincing one ;-).

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I host and surf a lot, but it often concerns friends (of friends (of friends)) that I met outside of this website aswell.

Made great friends through this website aswell though. One morning I told my couchsurfer Mandy over a cup of tea that I was thinking to travel to Uganda later in the year. Half an hour later we both booked our flight to travel there together.

Interests

I love my boyfriend, my friends, my family, laughing, chocolate, Ethiopian shoulder dancing, tango, ice cream, hugs, curries, fresh juices, granadillas, pickniks, byciling, travelling, reading, languages, markets, wine, beers, keeping in touch, camping, candles....

  • culture
  • music festivals
  • festivals
  • dancing
  • tango
  • dining
  • recipes
  • chocolate
  • wine
  • beer
  • drinking
  • reading
  • traveling
  • socializing
  • music
  • backpacking
  • camping
  • languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies & series: a bit of everything - except for horror, but a preference for more alternative / international movies - not the mainstream Hollywood productions. Loved Bon Dieu (it's hilarious - and it somehow reminds me of my own family), Intouchables, Into the Wild, Hotel Rwanda, scandinavian crime series, etc.

Books: Half of a yellow sun, Americanah (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie), Norwegian wood (Haruki Murakami), The 100-year old man who climbed out of a window and dissappeared (Jonas Jonasson), etc.

Music: jazz, world music, etc. One of my favorites is Habib Koité.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

* Travelling through Ethiopia: the Switzerland of Africa. Green and hilly. Such a beautiful country, with so much culture! I hope to live there one day.
* Reaching Macchu Picchu
* Backpacking solo through South-America at the age of 21 for some months. I was so unprepared, but I kept on travelling ever since.
* Working in the International Student House in Antwerp. I experienced food and dances from all over the world on a daily basis at a 10 minutes walk from my doorstep and made friends for life from so many different countries.
* Seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love being inspired with new recipes for tasty food or home made drinks, new music, new ideas for future travels, advice on home decoration, and things I would have never imagined to be inspired with. And the mission will be completed if I can inspire you as well in one way or another.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Sweden

Old School Badges

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