CURRENT MISSION

Broaden my personal & business horizons.....

ABOUT ME

I used to be a girl who took life way to seriously. Always working, studying and stressing. Until I reached my boiling point. After all, what's life worth if you are not enjoying it?!

So during my Master Marketing Management (of which I still don't know whether or not "it was my thing"), I decided to get out while I still could... I planned a world trip for after I'd graduate and in november 2008 I took off. I traveled until the end of October 2009, then settled in the city I had fallen in love with 3 years earlier.. Buenos Aires.

I lived in Buenos Aires for over 4 years, made a million friends and shared the best experiences and deepest emotions with people from all over the world.

In 2013 I went back to the Netherlands to register and focus on my tourism & translation company. Less than a year later, I had to admit I still couldn't resist the travel itch and decided to move to New Orleans. Now focusing on finding recurring clients for my company.

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Let me tell you traveling is a great way to get to know yourself. Although you're always busy planning places, hostels etc., there's plenty of time to think about things... work, the future, life. And it's a great experience. Personally, traveling has made me reconsider things quite thoroughly.

My conclusion? I'd rather be happy and poor, than rich and miserable. I can only hope to find an equilibrium somewhere in between one day... Life's too short. Live it while you can. Enjoy yourself!

I love to talk. In fact, I never shut up. Give me some wine (any alcohol for that matter) and I'll throw in some giggling. People tend to think I'm crazy. And then tell me. Give me more wine and I'll become even crazier. And happier. And incredibly funny, of course.

Love to listen. One might not guess, but people tend to come talk to me. Love to help people out. Whenever, wherever... if I can, I'll be there for you.

I've learned to love me. Love life. Mental note: Need to stop thinking. Start living. Enjoy being able to relax. Aiming for impulsiveness!
Love reading books. Watching movies. Can't go without music. Adore singing. Admire positive minds. Always smiling, if not laughing.

Remember: A day without smiling, is a day without living....

PHILOSOPHY

Be the change you want to see in the world. Live life!

Everything you do has its effect on others. It will come back to you. The energy you put out, is the energy you'll receive. Karma. Treat others the way you'd like to be treated.

It all sounds cliché, but it's really true.
If you find yourself stuck (be it your job, your hometown or even life in general), get out and live a little. It's a feeling that cannot be described, but I can tell you this much: traveling makes you think about life, about yourself, about others. Without a doubt you'll come back (if you ever decide to get back to the ordinary, that is...) a different person, a better person!

Traveling has made me realise that life is really too short to just let it pass by. Instead of being lost and stuck in a job I did not like, I decided to get out while I still can. My advice? Feel, Enjoy... LIVE.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I surfed quite a number of couches during my world trip, then hosted a whole bunch of people while living in a CS involved apartment in Buenos Aires. The last few years I haven't been able to host, but I am always up for a chat while enjoying a cup of coffee or a drink. :-)

Sharing experiences is something I adore. And for some reason people love hearing my (travel) stories... You'd be surprised how many people I have inspired to join CS and to start / keep traveling!!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My very first CouchSurfing experience was simply wonderful. I can only hope to find such great couches and meet such great people for the remainder of my journey called life...
CS is a great way to meet new people, learn about different cultures and get yourself tangled up in the funniest unexpected situations. Add alcohol to the equation and everything tends to become seriously interesting. :-)

Interests

Well... traveling of course!
Discovering new cultures, meeting people with different backgrounds, admiring nature and all its wonders and sharing travel experiences with other die-hard 'backpackers'. Although some simply take a suitcase on wheels these days... ;-)

My passion is foreign languages. I am fluent in Dutch, English, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Proficient in French.

• culture
• books
• singing
• wine
• coffee
• drinking
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• backpacking
• surfing
• business
• languages
• tourism

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Making a world trip is by far the most amazing thing I have ever done... Never in my life had I ever imagined seeing so many impressive things and meeting so many wonderful people.

One thing is certain: there are still good people in this world!
Many, in fact. You only need to find them. Or... let them find you :-)

Teach, Learn, Share

Don't ever think 'you cannot do it'. Don't be one of those people saying: 'I wish I could travel the world like ..x..', and then never really do it. Or worse: 'I wish I had travelled more when I was younger...'

If I can give you only one important tip: JUST DO IT.
(No, this is not a Nike ad, I seriously mean business). Save some money - if only a little bit - pack your backpack and throw yourself into adventure!

Every second of the journey is worth it, believe me.
And better yet, by using CouchSurfing, you don't even have to be a millionaire to see the most amazing places on the face of this earth... there's always wonderful people willing to offer you a couch!

And on top of all that, by 'surfing' local people's couches one gets a far better idea of the culture and lifestyle of the specific country and city.

So again, JUST DO IT!!! :-)

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, Australia, Netherlands, United States

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