Hi all -

I've been a bit of an educational nomad in both formal and informal ways. In 2016-2017, I participated in a long-term European Voluntary Service project at the rehabilitation centre for torture victims in Chisinau, Moldova, which has been one of the most insightful periods of my lifetime so far. In the past few years, I also studied in Germany (where my roots are), in Russia (which were some of the happiest times I have ever had despite the lockdown), in Finland (where I explored new mechanisms of self-efficacy), in Canada (which revealed how meaningful doors may open also just through virtual interactions) and Estonia - my newfound home. Recently, I've also been in Kosovo for a research internship, gaining more insights into non-majority groups in a (post?-)conflict region. Wisdom and knowledge are found in so many different areas and are nothing exclusive to science and academia, to my mind. What is easy to criticise on an abstract macro level may play out very differently on a micro level. And I would like to understand both, and not just on an abstract level as this can be very different from lived experience

I very much enjoy being around people - life is simply way more fun this way and there is so much to learn and experience. Something I am currently working on and that I would like to further improve is to have conversations in ways that all parties involved gain from it, be it from insights, the connections one draws, or something along those lines, especially when there are people who have widely differing views, beliefs, and experiences

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because it's the people that make places special for me.

Music, Movies, and Books

No favourites in particular, but I like reading biographies as well as movies and books which involve some historical, political or social background. In general, I like reading books and watching movies that provide thought-provoking impulses (or also just movies and books that other people recommend as they have a more personal connotation then)

Music differs according to my mood and attitude, so I like almost everything... But any song is better in its rock/metal version to me!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Being alive?

Teach, Learn, Share

I've been commited to travelling without stepping on a plane again since 2017 - for me it's mostly a social justice issue as it's only 10% of the world population that will ever use a flight in their lives and it matters to me to keep things in perspective. Being able to travel widely then again also depends a lot on the passport you hold. I respect that you may differ in your perspective. But I could definitely share some of my flight-free travel tips & tricks if you are interested :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Estonia, Germany, Kosovo, Moldova, Russian Federation, Serbia