ABOUT ME

Hi there! I'm Renée and I'm from the Netherlands. I work in education. I'm a social and open-minded person, but I also love to be on my own and to explore places all by myself. I'm curious about other cultures and I'm quite adventurous, if I may say so myself. Plus, I'm a very good listener and I'm always interested in other people and their lives. If you need a shoulder to cry on, or just some friendly advice, I'm there for you.

PHILOSOPHY

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. (Samuel Beckett)
My interpretation: Try things out and if it doesn't quite work out as expected, get up and try again.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The CS-experiences were always great. It's fantastic to meet new people you wouldn't meet otherwise.

Interests

I graduated in Film Studies (in Antwerp), so I love to keep myself occupied with watching great films. I love culture in every possible way; film, literature, music etc. but also visiting other countries and exploring their cultures. I love to cook; I eat mostly vegan and try out new recipes as much as I can. I do yoga on a daily basis and I swim and cycle. Lastly, I'm obsessed with vintage clothing. A favorite activity of mine is to go to vintage markets, looking for unique dresses.

• culture
• writing
• literature
• cooking
• vegan
• yoga
• socializing
• music
• jazz
• cycling
• swimming
• solo travel
• cinema
• sea
• feminism
• sunshine
• graphic novels
• hiphop
• vintage fashion
• french movies

Music, Movies, and Books

I love so many films, books etc., so this is just a completely random selection:
Films: À bout de souffle, The Hours, Belle de jour, Midnight in Paris, Eyes Wide Shut, Ladri di Biciclette, l'Eclisse, Metropolis, Late Spring, La Maman et la Putain, and sooo many more..
Music: Jeff Buckley, The Smiths, Beirut, dEUS, Kate Bush, Kendrick Lamar, Joanna Newsom, Fauve... and more..
Books: Anna Karenina, Mrs. Dalloway, The Marriage Plot, Wuthering Heights, The Catcher in the Rye, l'Étranger, and again; many, many more..

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I lived in Paris for 5 months. Living in Paris makes your life to be full of adventure every single day. There are a million stories I could tell. But I'm guessing that one of the most amazing things to do there was bicycling down the streets, next to the Seine, seeing the Louvre, Musée D'Orsay etc. flashing right next to you...From my house, I could cycle for like five minutes without even touching the pedals! It certainly was a superb feeling.

Another awesome memory was travelling in South America, getting sick and tired of bus rides every other day, and thus deciding to stay in one place for a while. I lived in the jungle for two weeks and worked with monkeys. It was one of the best and most intense experiences of my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I think everyone can teach you something about life! However, I'd love to meet people who have travelled more than I have, or who have a different background, and listen to their stories.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I will definitely bring you something from my home country! Plus, I can cook a lovely dish, every night if you want to, and I can promise to not make any sort of mess :) I adapt myself quite easily so I'll be as flexible as needed!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, France, Netherlands