Hi! My name is Jasper.

Currently, I’m doing a PhD in Political Science in the U.S. When I’m not working on that, I’m most likely bouldering, reading, or hanging out with friends. Originally, I’m from a small industrial town in West Germany called Herne. Before moving to the U.S., I also lived in the Netherlands, South Korea, and Berlin. I still have a place in Berlin and travel back regularly.

Besides traveling, I really enjoy learning and understanding new things. I’ve always been interested in politics, history, economics, and philosophy, but I can get fascinated by basically anything. So I’d be very happy if you shared with me whatever you happen to know a lot about!

Otherwise, I’m a fairly active person and do sports almost daily. At the moment, I mostly go bouldering and do some gym training, but in the past I’ve also practiced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, MMA, and mountain biking.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I’m a bit late to Couchsurfing, and I’m not entirely sure why. I used to live in a shared flat where one of my roommates would regularly host surfers, which was always a great experience and a fun way to meet new people. Somehow, it never really occurred to me that I could do Couchsurfing myself.

Last year, a friend finally took me Couchsurfing for the first time. We had a super interesting host, and it was an overall fantastic experience. Now I’m looking forward to meeting more people and exploring new places.

Interests

• dogs
• arts
• fitness
• yoga
• bouldering
• hiking
• history
• philosophy
• political science
• museums

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
I like electronic music, especially if it’s somewhat trashy. Mostly techno, rap, Eurodance, and hyperpop. Some of my favorite artists are Brutalismus 3000, Scooter, Blümchen, 100 gecs, and Falco.

Books:
Some favorites are War and Peace (Tolstoy), The Corrections (Franzen), Red Sorghum (Mo Yan), The Vegetarian (Han Kang), The Overstory (Richard Powers), and The Trial (Kafka).

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:
I trained various martial arts for quite a while and would be happy to show you some moves. If you’re learning German, I can of course also help with that.

A bit more niche: my PhD is (broadly) about the historical development of modern states. If you’ve ever wondered where states came from or why they do what they do, I might have some answers. I also know a bit about political science, history, and economics more generally.

Learn:
I’d love to learn more about you and your life. And about any topic you’re passionate about!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I’m always happy to cook a delicious (plant-based) meal for us. I also grew up with dogs and absolutely adore them. If you have one, I’d be very happy to take it for a walk.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Netherlands, South Korea, United States