I, Maria, traveled the world first from 2014-2016. In New Zealand, as a WOOFer, I experienced what cultural exchange means, what distinguishes vacation from travel. Connecting with locals in a country, helping out, getting involved and constantly learning is my fuel. I guess, you can see that attitude in my jobs as well: I am a trained teacher (Biology and German) and a scientist. For some time now, I have also been working as a mentor in the field of mental health. I am particularly interested in nature and its many effects on our human health. This is where I really want to learn: How can we get more in touch with nature again? How do we manage to deal with ourselves and the environment in a sustainable way in this day and age? I try to live every day as a gift, whatever that means. Being open for possibilities, treating people respectful, and creating a nice and nourishing environment around me :)

CURRENT MISSION

Trying to understand what's going on on this planet!
Discover the world and enjoy as much as I can!

MORE ABOUT ME

I am an optimistic, active, fun-loving human. I really like to be in the nature, discover new places or just enjoying little moments of life. In September 2014 I started my first journey... four months New Zealand, followed by many other long and short travels. Not everything on my journeys was fantastic and lovely, though, I'm more than glad to had the chance to see different culture from an insight-view.
And there is still much more to follow!

PHILOSOPHY

Traveling changes lifes and personalities. It's probably the most important source next to good education we have in this world and which we should push much more!

Traveling is a huge gift, which allows us to gain experiences that we could never have imagined at home in our familiar surroundings. Getting to know people, exchanging ideas, discussing and understanding history and cultural imprints from these experiences and encounters, is a great opportunity to not only grow personally, but also to rethink and reorient our own attitudes and ideas about life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

It's fantastic how wonderful this kind of travelling is. So many friendly people who give me advice and a good conversation! I haven't expected how intensive and impressive it can be. I love the idea behind it... People from different countries and cultures can be together, help each other and live together with all their differences.
People who share the idea of traveling and learning and helping each other! that's humanity!

I've travelled alone, I've hosted in Germany, and now I'm travelling the world again: together with the person, with whom I'm sharing my life for almost 4 years now =)

Interests

doing sports, cooking, baking, reading, laughing, discovering, hiking, sleeping, adventuring, understanding history, and more...

I am open-minded for new things outside there and I'm always willing to try out as much as I can. When, when not now... ?

• culture
• cooking
• baking
• reading
• traveling
• sports
• history
• tourism
• mountains
• nature
• adventures

Music, Movies, and Books

I love books from which I can learn... doesn't matter if they're (historic) novels, or about a certain topic, but they have to inspire! Also some of the classic german stuff from Goethe, Hermann Hesse, Kafka ... there you can see my background as an German teacher ;)
And I love cooking books from all over the world. Yammie :D

Music depends on my mood ... Radio music, charts, piano, rock, r'n'b or hip hop ... I like going to concerts, not the biggest ones, more the smaller ones.
And I also love the silence. Just listening to the sound of nature. Feeling my thoughts calm down or completely stopping…

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Definitely the decision to start travelling and exploring our planet!

more specific: saw the Northern lights, did skydiving, working on my own abilities and satisfaction

Teach, Learn, Share

We can cook together, make bread together (as a German I am in love with good bread), talk about mental strength and questions of life. I can teach you some German (if you want), or how to use nature and awareness for your personal well-being.

What I Can Share with Hosts

stories about my trips, some nice dinners together, crazy and funny moments of life, laughs, hugs, dances, ...
whatever :D
I'm creative ;)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belize, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Germany, New Zealand

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