Hi, I'm Ruben. I live in Amsterdam with my partner and three cats and I work as a software developer. We do not have many opportunities for hosting or CS-traveling these days, but if we have the chance, we’d love to do it again.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

By following the spirit of Ubuntu!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I joined CS in 2009 and I started with hosting to explore my own new home town better. Overall it has been a very rewarding experience and since then have stuck with CS. I think I can say that so far I have had nothing but positive experiences. Sure, sometimes CSing can be tedious and awkward, but most of the time it is loads of fun. Surfing I have so far done in Turkey, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan and Hungary.

Interests

I love to cook and eat (but who doesn't?)

For keeping fit and healthy I run, do yoga and swim.

Sometimes I start learning to play the guitar. And then later I sometimes start again.

• culture
• design
• photography
• yoga
• running
• movies
• board games
• reading
• traveling
• surfing
• swimming
• anthropology
• communications
• history
• religion
• the internet
• buddhism
• programming
• web development
• computer technology

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC

Bob Dylan, John Frusciante, Harry Manx, Madeleine Peyroux, Eels, Muse, Kings of Leon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, oldies (Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Doors). So generally bluesy, jazzy and rocky music. But really, I like to think that I have quite a broad taste (or is that equal to no taste at all? :-) and I am open to many different sounds.

TV SERIES

The Wire (!!!), The Sopranos, Lost, Homeland, True Detective, Treme, Scrubs, The Simpsons.
Movies: Godfather trilogy, Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, Spirited Away.

BOOKS

Papillion, Het Lelietheather from Chinese-Dutch writer Lulu Wang, Ontdekking van de Hemel [Discovery of Heaven] by Harry Mulisch, Joe Speedboot, the historical fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin (I was a fan of his books looooong before the HBO Series started) and any books by Robin Hobb.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

What is boring to some may overwhelm me, while the things others might find exciting may seem underwhelming to me. Of course, like any travel-lover I have had my nice experiences abroad. :)

Teach, Learn, Share

Lets find out what we have to teach and learn when we meet, okay?

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, Peru, Turkey

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