Born and raised in Belgium, in a rural region between Ghent and Antwerp. Moved to Ghent in 2009 when I turned 18 and started my studies at Ghent University. During my studies, I spent one Erasmus year in Spain. This experience encouraged me to travel more and in a different way than I used to do before, by using Couchsurfing for instance and meeting local people and other travelers. After graduating, I did some traveling, moved to Paris for a few months and eventually ended up in Poland where I stayed for two years and met the love of my life. Since 2017 I'm back in Belgium, but still traveling as long as time and money allow it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because I just LOVE meeting local people while traveling and do stuff you would never do as a regular tourist (for examples, see below).

Surfed in Croatia, Israel, USA, Lithuania, Amsterdam, Brussels, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo.
Hosted around 20 people from the following countries: Mexico, France, Poland, the USA, Brazil, Australia, Germany, India, Spain, Scotland, Turkey, Switzerland.
Convinced a few friends to join and none of them did regret it.
Went to some meetings in Ghent, Havana, New York, the amazing CS summer event in Brussels and been quite active in the CS community in Poland while I lived there. CS is a great way to meet people if you just moved to a new place where you don't know anyone. Also, I met my wife at a CS meeting in Poland so I have a lot to be grateful for!

Thanks to CS I had some experiences I would never have had otherwise:
- Getting to know the Middle East conflict from a well informed Israeli perspective
- Hitchhiking around the Sea of Galilee, sleeping on the beach and getting my money stolen but comforted afterward with some good tea by Israeli travelers
- Living in Amsterdam for three weeks when I had to do research there, meeting great backpackers and one night ending up at a squat party/queer night
- Getting to know my own capital and some great people at the CS Summer event in Brussels
- Cocktails for 2 dollars at a Havana CS meeting right next to El Capitolio
- Going to a Yankees game in NYC
- Celebrating my 22nd birthday with strangers at a CS meeting in NYC
- Staying in a 27th floor flat in Manhattan (awesome view included)
- Seeing the sunset in Zadar from the top of my host his building, according to Hitchcock the most beautiful one in the world (and I don't disagree)
- Meeting my wife!

Interests

History, (international) politics, traveling, blogging, journalism, Middle East.

• human rights
• dining
• beer
• partying
• politics
• traveling
• blogging
• backpacking
• snorkeling
• history
• journalism
• study abroad
• hitchhiking
• volunteering
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

FILMS: Das Leben der Anderen, Goodbye Lenin, Der Undergang, Inglorious Basterds, Motorcycle Diaries, Reservoir dogs, Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained, L'auberge espagnole, Les pouppées russes, The Hangover, American Pie, American History X, The Godfather, Scarface, American Gangster, De zaak Alzheimer, Loft, Snatch, Fight Club

MUSIC: Punk, Rock, Indie, Electro, and anything else actually. The only thing I really don't like is Metal.

BOOKS: I wish I read more novels really but I'm already very busy reading news on politics, or some good historical work. Three international writers I like a lot are Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Dan Brown and Khaled Hosseini but it has been a long time since I read their books. Some journalists/historians whose work I really love are Geert Mak, Anne Applebaum and Timothy Snyder.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Erasmus in Salamanca, Spain. (2011-2012)
Without any doubt the most lifechanging experience I've had. It's a cliché to say but this was definitely the best year of my life. I had the best flatmates, great parties and a lot of travel.

Partying in Tel Aviv, sleeping on the beach at the Sea of Galilee, climbing Masada and floating in the Dead Sea. Oh yes, Israel was my first but also the most memorable backpacking experience!

Seeing the New York skyline while staying in a 27th floor flat, watching Yankees - Red Sox and enjoying a college party in Princeton. Traveling in the USA was a lot of fun.

Backpacking through the Balkans was absolutely fantastic.

Snorkeling in the Red Sea, seeing the sunrise over the mountains of Saudi Arabia, watching the stars in the Wadi Rum desert and visiting Petra. Traveling through Egypt and Jordan, highly recommended!

Living in Gdynia, Poland for two years.

Taking the train from Beijing to Moscow with various stops in Mongolia and Russia.

Road trip through South Africa and Swaziland.

Getting married.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love discussing history and politics, sharing travel stories, going out to bars and teaching my guests about (Belgian) beer.

I'm not a great cook so if any of my surfers or hosts are, I'm always happy and very grateful if they cook for me and teach me about some food I don't know yet.

I got a teaching degree and keep trying to learn Polish.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Travel stories! And of course Belgian beer and chocolate.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, France, Poland, Spain

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