CURRENT MISSION

ABOUT ME

I work for the Belgian House of Representatives. I'm curious and have diverse areas of intrest, which makes Brussels for me the best place in Belgium to live because there's so much to discover.

PHILOSOPHY

I try to understand what inspires people and societies. I like to discover similarities and differences, that are never a problem with a tolerant approach and a willingness to be friends. I need a few certainties in live, but apart from them I'm curious enough to leave in order to discover the world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

A few times a year I like to travel to discover diverse countries and the people who live there. I also sometimes have the occasion to attend international conferences for my job and I like to extend those meetings for a few days to discover the city or the country where the conference takes place with a local host.

I also like to host people during periods in which I have a bit of time to show them around in Brussels.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've done it a few times before: in Bratislava (Slovakia), Copenhagen (Denmark), Nicosia (Cyprus), Bucharest (Romania), Haarlem and Lelystad (Netherlands). I've hosted too.

Interests

History, travelling (especially for getting the feel of a society better), (roots) music, politics, languages, local gastronomy, a good conversation in a bar, ...

• partying
• politics
• traveling
• music
• folk music
• etymology
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: drama, thriller, comedy
Music: folk, chanson, classical, some pop and blues

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

- Syria: it isn't such a nice place nowadays, but I was welcomed in Aleppo as I had never been before in a new country. I was even invited on a wedding party where I didn't know anyone. Deir al zur in the east of Syria,close to the Iraqi border, was a different experience - you could forefeel the turmoil coming.
- Machu Picchu: a great sight after a great Inca trail. I was so enthusiastic that I twisted my ankle at the sun gate, the first place from which you can see the Machu Picchu site. The day was a bit spoilt, but not entirely.
- Israel and the Palestinian territories: it's amazing how everything was separated. In Hebron Palestinians weren't expropriated, but they were not allowed to go to the street where their houses are; between cities there were good highways for the Israelis and dirt roads for the Palestinians.

Teach, Learn, Share

The best way to learn about the goals and fears of a given society is to try to unravel historical background, rituals, etymology and preferences on the scale going from individualism to collectivism.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium