CURRENT MISSION

make it home with a full heart

ABOUT ME

Lena and Chris met by chance on a train in Melbourne. Lena had only arrived in Melbourne 2 days before coming from Melbourne and was taking the opportunity of a nice day to explore the central city. Chris was going to meet up with a friend, normally not taking the train but having crashed his car. With Chris having heard Lena's at that time distinctly German accent, he fell in with talking with her. As they talked it came about that the town that Chris had been in 9 years before on a six week exchange was actually Lena's home town. They knew many of the same people. A chance meeting, or fate?

We then eventually brought ourselves a campervan (named VJ), and set off for Australia. Avoiding bush fires, floods and flies, Lena and Chris traveled the whole way around Australia visiting Friends and family, Wwoofing, finding great friends and wonderful experiences. A pause in Brisbane for work at Wicked Campers, a breakdown at the end of the national park in Exmouth, a broken windscreen on the road for road trains in outback Queensland, this trip was full of fun and learning.

(I love Melbourne, but must say that the West Coast of Australia is by far the better! If all you want is some tourist photos and a bar every night, than go to the East Coast. If you really want to be amazed by nature and a place to find yourself, than try the West Coast.)

3 weeks back in Melbourne before a flight out to Germany. There to meet family and friends. Lena and Chris spent 6 wonderful months in Bremen, making some new friends and falling in love with the north German city. While there, some wonderful weekend trips to Netherlands and even a flight with Friends Mike and Mel to Istanbul for a week. What a wonderful experience that was.

Lena and Chris then packed their bags in the tiny and wonderful Renault Twingo, Ingo, and left for Lena's grandparents house in Spain, on the way taking in Brussels (and our first CS experience with the amazing Raf), Paris and an interesting stay in Taize.

The travels continued after a stay in Spain, with driving the east coast of Spain, visiting Portugal, a flight to Scotland for a friends wedding, then driving on through the south of France, through Italy, up through Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and back through Germany. The whole time Couch Surfing and meeting the most amazing people and the best experiences ever.

After a brief stay back in Germany, Lena and Chris took off again for Denmark, Sweden and Norway, with big ideas of seeing the Fjords of Norway before a flight back to Italy. Sadly, a little less time than first thought and some break downs with the otherwise ever reliable Ingo meant only as far as Oslo, but once again some of the best CS experiences.

A stay in a Tuscan villa for 2 months before Christmas in Germany and a flight back to Australia.

Lena and Chris have since spent the last 7 months settling into life in Australia, though the call of travel is never far away. Lena was in Singapore for 2 weeks to pick up residency visa, and now Chris is heading to Spain to walk the Camino.

After this, who knows. The love of new horizons and the knowledge that they can be reached will forever keep them moving.

Lena: is an honest person, who cannot understand yet while the world is not also. Such a driven person, who is in search of life and its meanings. Walked Camino de Santiago de Compostella , a 4 1/2 week, 800km+ walk. A genuine person concerned with the real world.

Chris: Loves to listen, laugh and smile. A major in Archaeology/Philosophy, loves to know why things are as they are. Have learnt more while traveling and spending time with people than any class room. Has been a tennis coach for several years and loves to see people grow. Has time for people, but needs to learn to make time for himself.

They both enjoy traveling to see what there is to see, enjoying the food of the country they are in, and learning more about themselves as they go.

PHILOSOPHY

Life is about experiences. Don't wait for them, go out and find them.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Tell all my friends, especially those who are already traveling. Also mention to other travelers when our paths cross :-) We love it.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfed couches in Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Scotland, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway so far and it was absolutely fabulous and we want to continue our trip ... possibly over the whole world, because it is the best way to travel and meet people out of the country where you are :-))

Interests

Travel, food of the world, books, Photography, the workings of the world, sunsets and sunrises (best times of the day),

Chris: Photos, History (usually pre-renaisance), Anime (Samurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop, Full Metal Alchemist), Cooking (not very good, but still enjoy it), Reading , Tennis (I am a tennis coach), Soccer, walking/jogging, Sleeping in when I can, beer (but only part time), giving massages

Lena: the sea, being in motion, Bond movies, organization, candles, finding a bargain (ebay is addictive), deep and meaningful talks, dancing, improv theater, massages

• books
• theater
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• coach
• walking
• anime
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• surfing
• soccer
• tennis
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Whatever is well done, interesting and makes you think. Otherwise, a bond movie to help us sleep.

Music: a strange collection of music, from chill music to Metal, Alternative to Dance. Tend to stay away from whats pop, but will usually find us listening to the radio

Books: Chris loves History (currently reading Ancient Chinese Novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms: english edition)
Lena found a love from crime novels in Australia

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Traveled around Australia in a campervan, starting in Melbourne and going all the way around Australia.
Traveling around Europe in a black Renault Twingo, named Ingo :-)

Teach, Learn, Share

Chris is a tennis coach and massage therapist
Lena studied Pedagogy and is a scoutand a massage therapist
Otherwise, we are students of life and interested in lots of things.

What I Can Share with Hosts

wisdom

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, England, Germany, Italy

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