I work as speaker in schools, so my main job is to go to students and talk about the holocaust, the world wars, Congo, resistance, human rights. I also organize memorial voyages to graveyards,battlefields, concentration camps and extermination sites. But that's my job.

In everyday life I'm more cheerful, witty, social and I'm not constantly talking about depressing subjects.

An evening well spent to me is sitting in a garden, terrace or park, a couple of friends. Something to drink, perhaps a snack and talk the hours away or playing some game.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As you can see I'm new here. So I don't really know what to expect but the most simple answer is to travel in an interesting, surprising way and meet people along the way.

But I guess that holds true for all of us ;)

So for me, I don't know why I decided to try this. Perhaps because it's the complete opposite of all my latest travels, which were mostly for work. Everything was planned, I had a lot of responsibilities from breakfast till the group went to bed. Now it will be completely by myself. Something I've never done before, with only a sense of direction and a vague plan, to see which surprises the next day might bring.

Interests

• books
• socializing
• museums
• comedy
• new experiences
• boardgames
• cities at night
• history and culture
• gamedesign

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
Always difficult to pick favorites but for entertaining books I can never go wrong with Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Isaac Asimov and quite a few others but I'll stick to these three.

But for everyone even remotely interested in culture, history and humanity I would recommend Fracture : life & culture in the West, 1918-1938 by Philipp blom, Very well written and each chapter moves you, year by year, to another aspect of those turbulent times.

Music: When I was younger the answer would be hiphop, dub, reggae and dancehall. With as guilty pleasure some folk. These days it's much broader but if it has a dub, reggae or hiphop vibe I'll probably be nodding along.

Movies: Last of the Mohicans, Blade Runner, Zaitochi (2003), Little Miss Sunshine, Pan's Labyrinth. Many other's as well but these films are "perfect" too me.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was Belgium Youth Champion Stratego, by accident, for several years. Was even allowed to go play in London twice at the Mind Olympics. I went together with my father, the only long trip we ever did purely with the two of us. I think my love for discovering cities started there.

It's probably cheating to add another one but one of the most special memorial voyage I helped organise was to bring a 1000 youths from all over Europe to Auschwitz to meet survivors and learn their stories.

Teach, Learn, Share

I don't if this is allowed but I love the radiogarden app. 1000's of free music stations from around the world, another great way to discover a language, a country, a culture. My favorite radio station is in Bermuda, its really the best for all kinds of dub;

What I Can Share with Hosts

Difficult to say because I have no experience coachsurfing; Always up for a walk and/or talk but I'll never impose.

So a cheerful disposition, empathic ear and an entertaining conversation if so desired are the the only things I can think of for now.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, England, France, Hungary, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Turkey, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium