CURRENT MISSION

In 2018/2019 and in 2021/22, I was on sabbatical leaves, i.e. one year travelling, learning languages etc. However, the second one was honky half a year thanks to the pandemic.

In 2018/19, After about 6 weeks friends, beach and party in crazy Brasil, one month Arabic lessons in Oman, one month of new and ancient culture in Iran and one month of friends, beach and culture in Turkey, I was on a trip through Spanish-speaking Latin America and later traveling on land from Germany, via Lithuania and Poland to Urkaine, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kirgisistan.

Iran was quite special because I could see what has changed in the last years since a German author wrote a book about Couchsurfing in Iran in 2014.

I somehow see many things critical about how people deal with CS. I've realized many do not read any profiles but just ask people to stay over, no matter who (!) they are or for what reason they are on CS, especially in Iran. But it also makes all sense in a capitalist globalized world.

Back home, I teach German to immigrants, mostly refugees, and I give workshops against homophobia. For the last years, I've (de)learnt a lot of things and have started activism on Social Media.

ABOUT ME

I like teaching and travelling and meeting people from all over the world.

Hence, I've learnt some foreign languages and I'm still not fed up with it :) As well I like welcoming foreigners to Germany and show them the different faces of my home country.

Furthermore, I give workshops to school classes and teachers about homophobia at school (and in society) which is essential for me as an openly queer man (and teacher).

In order to proof you've read my profile (or at least scanned it), please start a conversation by saying "Hey Lehrer John" :)

PHILOSOPHY

I'm now almost 40 years old but I'm not yet settled, due to my job, my interests, my restlessness etc. In former times, I thought, 30 is like the end - it's defo not :)

So, think positive, love yourself, be true to yourself and be nice :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've been here for some years now but wasn't active due to my job and not a lot of travelling for some time, unfortunately, and then thanks to the pandemic.

On the other hand, I try to see my friends abroad as much as possible, so I have my personal couch surfers lol

For my first sabbatical leave, I somehow re-discovered CS and have had already many really great but, honestly, also some weird experiences.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I bumped into a former CS host in a club in Sevilla, years after staying at his place in Oporto :)

As told above, I'm an old member and at the same time new to CS. Until now I have had already many really great hosts or meet-ups in Iran, Turkey and Egypt but, unluckily, also some weird experiences in Iran.

Interests

Languages, culture, music, history.

• culture
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• teaching
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Indie, Alternative, Electro, Wave etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Riding a bus from Gondar to Lalibela during 11 hours and being the only non-Ethiopian, i.e. ferenji.

Hitchhiking almost 1000km from Ibri to Salala in Oman, 20 hours forth and 10 hours (!) back.

Hiking to the Ciudad Perdida in Colombia and being the first person up there in the early morning.

Being invited to stay over by a local family in the Georgian mountains after hitchhiking.

Hiking the Joaquina dunes in Floripa. Not difficult at all but quite unknown and stunning.

SUP-ping in front of Ipanema by setting sun; jogging in the sands of Copacabana and Ipanema.

Trying to see the mosque in Casablanca on a stop-over: I had to jog to get the train back to the airport and not lose my flight.

Being the last two persons (me and my brother) in Petra the first night, and among the first ones the next day.

Seeing the mystical Golden Rock in Myanmar, and meeting great folks on the way there.

Climbing the Pico and the Teide, and being the first on top.

Running around Ani in 90 minutes.

Hiking in the Sinai and having transcendent experiences thanks to Shigella 🫣

Teach, Learn, Share

Well, I'm a language teacher AND have been learning a lot of languages so I might be called an expert in questions of how to learn, teach and compare languages.

In the end, I'm promoting a policy of what's called "Sprachtoleranz" in German. It's about respect to different varieties of one's mother tongue and to bordering/next-door languages.

Furthermore, I give workshops about homophobia, (access to privileges), discrimination etc.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A broad experience about travelling and languages.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Germany, Mexico, Oman