I am a writer. I am from Sweden. I currently live in Berlin, and right now I´m traveling in the United States for three months to do research for my next novel and attend an acting school in Chicago. I am hoping for fun adventures, but I also love to relax with good food and conversation, hanging out with a nice person at a cool bar or on the beach, or go to see shows, movies or concerts. I hope you´ll see me as an easygoing, social guest to host and explore the city together with, and if you are ever traveling in the city where I live, I would of course love to return the favor and host you right back!

Two of my biggest interests are music and theater. My dad plays the tenor saxophone, so I grew up with big band jazz and classics like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holliday in my ears. Later I learned to dance Lindy Hop, foxtrot and blues, which I still pursue whenever I can, and sometimes I sing with my dad´s band in Sweden. If you´re also into music we can jam or go to a music event! I also love to act. I have studied improv comedy for many years, and I play in English as well as in Swedish. I plan to see a lot of shows here in Chicago, and you´re most welcome to join!

Food is also a favorite topic. I really enjoy to eat good local food, and it doesn´t have to be fancy in any way, I´m a big fan of street food! I can cook, but I prefer to eat out. That is UNLESS I can do the cooking with happy pop songs from the 60´s on loud volume in the background and a half filled wineglass in one hand. (I do realize that at some point I need to find an eventual, future husband who can cook to set an example for our eventual, future children so they don´t grow up to be completely spoiled brats who can´t even peel a carrot, but I plan to (maybe) worry about that later. Also, in the future, everyone might have a cooking robot anyway, or just charge their health-status with their phone). What I really wanted to say here is: If you have never cooked together with the Beatles, I would recommend you to do it at least once in life. I am one of the few people (?) in this world who doesn´t really like beer. I do however like wine, whiskey or cocktails. Manhattans and Cosmopolitans are my signature drinks, and if you think that sounds very sex-and-the-city-ish you´re right: I have watched every episode, and it´s still my go-to series if I have a bad day.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I worked for one year as a traveling consultant, so I have had my share of lonely hotel rooms in unknown cities. Really, the only "up" is the breakfast. I much rather stay with cool local people who wants show me their city than alone at a hotel or hostel. That said: I do NOT see other people´s homes as free hotels. I am a guest who likes sharing stories and experiences as well as listning to yours, and if you have the time and interest, I would love to take you out for dinner/breakfast/fika/drinks in return for hosting me.

Interests

• coffee
• movies
• comedy
• improv comedy
• good coffee

Music, Movies, and Books

I am a big fan of big band jazz music, blues and pop music from the 60´s-80´s, but I listen to other genres too. Many of my friends in Sweden play in bands, and I often go to their concerts, whether it´s classical music or heavier rock. When I lived in New York, my land lord lived in the basement where the house- laundromats were, and since he loved to play Eros Ramasotti on maximal volume, that was the soundtrack to which all my laundry was made. When I returned to Sweden again I really missed it. Actually, I still miss it. What I´m saying here is: when someone is passionate about their music, I find it hard not to join in! Also, after I went through a long period of lip-sync performances to the Swedish artist Carola´s megahit "Fångad av en stormvind" ("Captured by a storm, hung up on you, nothing can stop me, when the wind is is my heart"...) in second grade, my parents decided I should learn how to make real sound come out when singing, so they put me in a choir, which eventually got me into music conservatory in 4th grade. That means I know the alto-part to every Swedish traditional folk song and also every melody by ABBA. What I´m also trying to say here is: YES I will most definitely go to a karaoke bar with you, and if you want, you can be all the background dancers in "Mamma Mia")

The most recent movie I saw was Wonder Woman at an iMax theater in Berlin. I thought it was amazing and wanted to be an Amazon warrior. In general I watch a lot of movies, especially now that I´m trying to write a script. I have a serious crush on Netflix. Honestly, what did everyone do with their time before?

I love to read. I was a bookworm all the way through school and even studied literature at university. Currently I´m reading "The Girls" by Emma Cline. It´s her debut, and it´s gotten raving reviews. Before that I read the thriller " I let you go", by Claire Macintosh. I can really recommend both books!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have published two books (non fiction) and am working on my third (fiction).

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you Swedish words, our anger management culture, and how to travel with only hand luggage. I like teaching, and I like learning. Before I had my writer break-through, I taught Swedish and English at a high school. My trick was always to make the most difficult things seem very fun, so that the kids practiced advanced stuff without thinking about it. When they eventually realized they had been learning strategies on how to master their fear of speaking publicly while playing "Katja´s Fear Factory", it was too late, I had already brainwashed them with knowledge and there was no turning back. What I´m saying is: if you really decide you want to learn from my life style, there is a good chance you also start to travel with only hand luggage (the best part is when everyone else is stuck by the airport´s conveyor belt and I just march past them), and if I teach you how to write a real Swedish angry-note, you might start handling your conflicts in the Swedish passive aggressive way and your friends might start to wonder what happened to you.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Knowledge about Sweden, Fika, and good conversation!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Germany, Spain, Sweden, United States