IMPORTANT UPDATE!

After hosting quite a few people we have decided we should let you know about our own preferences. We really like couchsurfing but don't want to feel like a free hotel. We open up our home to cs'ers because we want to spend time with them. So, we prefer either that you arrive early or - even better - stay at least two days. One of those days we typically expect you to cook for us since we also usually cook for you. It's just a little thing but it makes a difference to us. ;)

My wife Marieke and I travelled around the world (well, part of it anyways) in 2016 and it was a great experience. Since accommodation is so expensive we started using couchsurfing, although with no references and in expensive placed such as Hong Kong nothing much came of it.
Back in Belgium after nearly a year of travelling things were never quite the same. The urge to travel to really appreciate other cultures and other people never left us! Ever since, we started hosting people in our home in Ghent and it's been great.
I'd say we are very relaxed people who don't typically rush to get things done. We like to take time for our guests if time allows. We usually cook for them but certainly don't mind if you want to teach us a new dish. We're especially fond of Asian cuisine.
Marieke is a social worker and I have a degree in English and Dutch. During the end of 2018 we were on a 10-week travel through Cuba and Mexico. Now we're back we each have to find a new job and are hosting again!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

We know how important it is to find cheap or free accommodation when traveling and we are very keen on meeting new people and talking about travel experiences. When we're not traveling we invite the world to come to our place, instead.
However, this does not mean that we host everybody. If you have virtually no time to spend with us you should probably try a different host. After all, the meaning of couchsurfing is more than just offering a place to stay, it is about meeting new people.

Interests

• writing
• literature
• photography
• running
• movies
• reading
• classical music
• piano
• backpacking
• travel
• ido portal

Music, Movies, and Books

All kinds, jazz, classical, pop.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Working with cattle in Mongolia.

Teach, Learn, Share

We are both music fans and have a good upright piano in our living room that each couchsurfer is free to use. We both play at intermediate level. We would love someone to help us improvise on the piano or teach us some jazz standard.
We really like cooking together (in honesty Marieke is the real chef) and find it important to share our meals with our guests. Drinks and long chats guaranteed! We find it important to make you feel at home. Sometimes when traveling this is what we miss most. In Mexico they say 'mi casa es tu casa'.
We have broad interests in culture and arts and regularly go to exhibitions.

I am a photographer and I would love to photograph whoever comes here.
www.instagram.com/bogaertsjo
www.jobogaerts.be

What I Can Share with Hosts

Love for Asian food, travel stories, showing you around the city, a piano, ...

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Cuba, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France