CURRENT MISSION

Spreading the word that Germans actually can have a sense of humor

ABOUT ME

I was born and raised in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. A city that has changed completed during the past 25 years. Whenever I'm on one of Berlin's train, buses, trams, etc. I hear so many different languages that remind me of all the amazing people I met abroad and back home in Berlin.

I was born behind the iron curtain but I'm blessed that this fact didn't affect my life at all. In fact, I studied abroad and discovered a second home far away from home. I learned to survive on my own. I learned to approach strangers with an open mind and what cultural diversity actually means and how it can enrich lifes.

I'm addicted to sports, love to workout regularly. This became an important part of my life and I love to be continuously in motion. No matter what it is, I'm always willing to learn new things, try new sports, and hike anywhere.

I love having dogs around me, but also don't mind other animals (as long as they don't try to harm/ bite/ eat/ kill me).

I'm currently working towards my PhD in engineering. Luckily, this allows me to combine work and leisure, to see new places and meet new people. It allows me to work abroad. It allows me to meet international students back home.

When I travelled with my family, my mom always taught me and my sister basic words in the language of the country that we visited. A "tradition" I've kept ever since. It doesn't just teach me something new. More importantly, I think it is a great way to appreciate and honor new people that I meet as I’m might be a guest in their home country.

I can be serious and I can be fun- it all depends on the people and the situations I face (doesn't always work though :o)

PHILOSOPHY

Treat others the way you want to be treated. Be respectful, be open-minded. Be polite, be curious. If you don't try, you'll never know would could have happened.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm fairly new to the couchsurfing community. However, I heard about it earlier but I was really introduced to it by friends of mine who I met after I moved to Cincinnati for a short-term research stay.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Whoever reads this has the opportunity to introduce me to a whole new way of travelling ;).

Interests

I love seeing new places when I'm abroad. It doesn't matter if it's a contemporary building, a historical site or an abandoned building. I like to hang out at the beach, if I can somehow keep myself busy.

• animals
• dogs
• folklore
• seafood
• traveling
• hiking
• sports
• engineering
• languages
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a movie maniac.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The greatest and most overwhelming experience doesn't really have to do with couchsurfing. However, I guess it was a couchsurfing-like experience when a friend and I went to Madrid for New Year's Eve and to visit a friend of ours. We actually ended up spending the first half of night with his family. I've never experienced some much kindness and hospitality before. We were treated as if we were part of the family. Nobody was offended by my bad Spanish. We feasted and toasted together and I never had better seafood in my life ;). We had never met these people before but after leaving their house I felt like I was part of this family. It was probably the first time I felt what it's like to be a European rather than a German.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Puerto Rico, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States

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