Hey there!

I am Merel, from the Netherland. One day, I decided to spontaneously buy a train ticket and travel the whole of Europe. (The 'whole' of Europe might sound a bit cooler if it was a lil' bigger) Since then, I have been exploring the world one tiny bit at a time. Travel goals right now: learning to speak Portuguese and learning how to surf.

Currently in Brasil 🇧🇷

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love emerging myself into different cultures. I do not care so much for seeing the famous sights in a city, those are fun, but the people you meet along the way make for the best experience. I just show up with my small backpack, an analog camera, and the adventure always follows.

Also, I have the magic ability to get lost in every city I visit.

Interests

• arts
• writing
• music festivals
• dancing
• environment
• cooking
• yoga
• working out
• reading
• music
• tennis
• food
• vintage
• creative writing

Music, Movies, and Books

My movie knowledge is described by my friends as terrible (I have JUST watched Pulp Fiction), but I've made it a tradition to go see a movie everytime I'm in a new country. My list of movies I still need to watch is insanely long, but please tell me your favourite so I can add it to the bunch ;)

I have a thing for everything from the 70s and 80s. The music, the clothing, the architecture.

Favourite music: 80s disco/soul, Terence Trent D'Arby, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, Faithless, Wham!

Favourite series: I used to have a list of series here, but let's be real, it's pretty much the whole of Netflix.

Favourite book: I am a writer myself. I love to take a small topic and explore it to the max in my writing, so mainly non-fiction. My favourite book is non-fiction as well; Het Been in de Ijssel. Only in Dutch, but if you're fluent, definitely give it a go!

Also, good food, dancing, reading, cooking, karaoke.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Randomly decided to get my nose pierced in a sketchy shop in Poland a few days before I had to take a new passport photo. 10 glorious years of remembering that mistake.

What I Can Share with Hosts

We can share travel stories, recipes, conversations while I put on terrible Dutch music, the story of how I wouldn't be born if it wasn't for the beer brand Heineken, conversations about your culture, anything :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands