UPDATE: currently don't have a room in Utrecht myself, travelling around for a bit. Feel free to ask anyway, I might know someone to hook you up with (but chances are slim)

Hey!

Curious student that loves to travel. If you're curious why; I have about 90 different reasons that I'd love to tell you about in person :) (probably my favorite is artificial Enlightenment)

Just finished a bachelor's in science, now taking another gap year. After high school, I went to Nepal for a few months, as well as some places in South-East Asia. Now my first time in the States! Hitching to New Orleans, and then we'll see what's next!

Love to read, a book is one of the first things I pack when hitting the road; sometimes I try to write a bit myself. Interests range from arts and philosophy to whiskey types and card tricks.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To connect with people! I mean, what else are we on earth for? I think creating a connection with someone is one of the most valuable experiences you can live through, and it can be dissected into different stages (the spontaneous, exciting joy in the beginning, the exploration, the encountering of both affirming and different views (we're all different people, after all) that increase that sweet self-doubt and ignite the learning process), all ideally covered in a layer of warmth and openness, 'we know time, and it's all fine'.
It's a bit of an analytical approach, but that doesn't at all mean I don't feel the sweet flames of humanity bursting through my face in the process ;)

EXPERIENCE
Did loads of hosting via another, very similar website, and that was really awesome: to bring so many stories and beautiful moments to your doorstep! (spontaneous opera visit I remember fondly).
For that I'd really like to repay the world by being the best guest I possible can (or best host in the future). That means: being fully flexible in practicalities, being tidy, either chilling together or happily keeping myself occupied, being respectful, etc. I just want to spread some love, that's all :)

Music, Movies, and Books

Completely hyped by music in general; mostly jazz, classical music (I sing in a student choir) or prog rock.

Movies: La Grande Bellezza, The Godfather, The Prestige, Good Will Hunting, Network, The Revenant, everything with Gary Oldman or directed by Christopher Nolan, etc.

Books: I can't even make a selection here ':-) let's for now just say everything by Dostoyevski and On the Road by Jack Kerouac

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Trekking in the Himalayas with a landscape photographer!

Teach, Learn, Share

Right now I'm trying to dive into Buddhism, complete with daily meditation and philosophical approaches on happiness, peacefulness (how they get confused), how to deal with negative emotions, or how to deal with the world in general really: with open arms and a loving smile.
Would love to exchange some thoughts about all of that :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United States