CURRENT MISSION

to learn Swedish

ABOUT ME

My name is Marie. I am a student from Austria. I have been living in Gothenburg since summer 2011. Originally I was only supposed to stay here one year, but I simply fallen in love with the town and decided to stay. Before coming to Sweden I studied spatial planning in Vienna. Here I am in a master program called “Design for sustainable Development” at Chalmers.
I love traveling, to learn about new countries and cultures and meet people from all around the world. I also enjoy living in different countries and exploring a new culture. I always try to figure out how different cities work. I really like new structures and discovering places.
I am also a big fan of boardgames and try to play at least once a week. In Gothenburg I have been organising a CS boardgame evening for a while now. It is also where I have met most of my friends in this wonderful city. Another thing I love is sauna. It is just the best way to relax, even in the summer and a good way to stay warm in the cold, rainy Swedish winter.
Before I started University I was a volunteer in Costa Rica working with kids in an orphanage from fall 2007 to summer 2008. I also got the opportunity to learn more about the country and meet some unique and great people. I also got to travel to some other Latin American Countries.
Back in High School I was an Exchange Student in Mars, PA with AFS for one year. This might be the moment, when I started loving to travel and to meet new people. I had the best year ever, and I got a new, second family there.

PHILOSOPHY

you always meet twice

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I organize a CS boardgame evening in Gothenburg and I also try to take part in other CS events in the city. I also love to show my lovely city to travellers. I have hosted some before, but unfortunately do not have to possibility now (due to only renting a small room in somebody’s apartment). I also have used CS when traveling and hope to do it more in the future.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have organized events for the CS community, mainly the boardgame evening in Gothenburg. I have hosted some and also surfed some places. I also have shown some travellers around the city and absolutely love doing that. Actually I probably have met most of my friends here through CS and would say it became a huge part of my life.

Interests

Traveling and meeting the World!
Cities (I love to explore new places), cultures, boardgames, sauna, impro theatre (started a few months ago and I love it), Languages (not really good at them, but I am trying), reading (really don’t do this often enough), meeting (new) people, spending time with my friends, and in Sweden of course fika (having coffee)

• culture
• cooking
• coffee
• sauna
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• teaching
• languages
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

this and that

I don't really have favourites, but right now I am trying to read Swedish books

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Traveling to the northern parts of Sweden in January 2014 and staying warm at -35° and just everything I have seen there, especially the northern lights.

Teach, Learn, Share

At the moment I want to improve my Swedish and get better at playing impro theatre

Not sure I would be a good teacher, but things I might be able to teach would German, how I see cities, how to bake an Austrian Apfelstrudel or cook some Austrian Knödel, and how to play boardgames of course.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Croatia, Ecuador, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Costa Rica, Sweden, United States

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