CURRENT MISSION

I'm currently on the mission of being able to do a 1/2 Ironman triathlon in under 4 hours and 30 minutes! Challenging, but fun!
I've found that there are so many layers of self-awareness and personal growth - it's a continuous process, and I find it really valuable. The best way to grow is to confront yourself with others that have a different background from yourself. That's why I want to host - to learn a lot about you, to get to know you, but also to learn a lot about myself. And of course because there's loads of things to do and have a lot of fun doing those :)

ABOUT ME

I love to sport (hiking, running, swimming, cycling,...), I really enjoy nature and love exploring and identifying birds, butterflies, mammals and so on along the way! I also love to have long talks about the deeper things in life, which is strengthened by the fact that I'm trying to be a sensitive and sympathetic person, ready to help anyone out who needs me and volunteering for everything that seems important to me.
I like to put a lot of effort in things I find challenging and interesting (like my scientific work, or studying nature).
However, that doesn't mean I'll be fatiguing you with endless stories - I also love to relax, be calm, and take the time to really listen to others. You are welcome whatever state of mind you are in. The only thing that puts me off is people who are particularly egocentric and are not open to others, and see CouchSurfing as just another way of finding a cheap place to crash. If you're coming to stay at our place, I assume you've read my profile, you've found it interesting and found some common interests between you and me, and you want to spend some time together. No harm in passing out on the couch when you've just travelled a whole day, though!

PHILOSOPHY

My personal philosophy is that you should live your life to the fullest, but making sure that everyone after you is able to do the same things (and more). What I mean by that is that it's awesome to explore the world in every way, but try to reduce your impacts (airplanes, eating a lot of meat, being 'the tourist' a tad to much) just so everyone after you can enjoy it in the same way! It's really easy to make the switch, and people will like the respect you have for your surroundings.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Before sending me a couch request, please bear the following in mind: I am a bit old-fashioned in CouchSurfing, and if you've hosted a lot of people, you probably are too. When I surf, I don't offer for a free bed, I ask the friendship of a person I am genuinly interested in. When I offer my spare room, it's because you have taken the time to read my profile and liked what you read. You have looked for things we could do together or talk about, and you've taken the time to think about what you could do in return. If you do that, I will also take the time to read your profile, and chances are very high I will accept your request, and offer you a homely home, with free breakfast and dinner, a warm shower and good company. I hope you understand why I had to write this - CouchSurfing has become much more of a 'I need a free place to stay'-thing than a 'I would love to contribute to making both your and my life better'.

I've been participating a lot in CouchSurfing during my time in Johannesburg, where we really created a lot of the fun events there. These were my first experiences, and there I learnt that a platform which lets you get into touch with locals is the very best way to travel and learn local habits and culture.

So whether you're new to CS or a guru, you're welcome to stay in my place. As I said, when surfing, I'm generally looking for a place to stay where people want to exchange experiences rather than just offering a free bed.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

It's really a friend who has brought me into contact with CouchSurfing, but I've always loved the idea that there is a platform for travellers to meet locals and change the travelling experience altogether.
So far I've been in Jo'burg (South Africa), where we had a lot of good times creating events open to all, including going out, going to musea, or just having a lazy night at someone's place.

I also hosted quite some people in Ghent, my home town. I always try to make some free time for surfers, even though I'm working full time and show them around or take them out.

Interests

• birds
• culture
• triathlon
• running
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• cycling
• hiking
• surfing
• sports
• swimming
• science
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: depends on my mood, can be anything from metal to dance, but I like stuff like Eddie Vedder, Daft Punk, Stromae, First Aid, Queens of the Stone Age, Absynthe Minded,... Quite a few genres, not all of which are compatible, and are definitely mood-dependent!

Movies: you know you've seen a good movie if it changes the way you see things (examples: Ciudade de Deus, Into the Wild,...)

Books: I love to read John Steinbeck, Khaled Hosseini,... Storytellers with a real insight in human nature, that can write a story which can haunt you, motivate you, hurt you,...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Joined the Youth Movement for Nature and Environment (JNM). Met awesome, motivated, insightful, warm and ambitious people there. Best decision to ever make!

Teach, Learn, Share

I think one of the things I've learned in Johannesburg, which is the complete other side of the world from where I live, that people are the same everywhere. Obviously, the cultures are different, but if you keep an open mind, a light heart and a happy spirit, you can be loved everywhere and can penetrate even the most closed of societies.

Another thing I personally feel is quite important is that everyone looks at everything from their own perspective. They see the world through their eyes, but everything is filtered by their glasses, which are filled with past experiences, personal beliefs and your personality. When dealing with others, it's good to be aware of the fact that this perspective is there - from there, you can change your own perspective and not feel left out, sad or demotivated.

From a more practical point of view: I can teach you how bikes work and some stuff you've always wanted to know about science.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Breakfast
Beer
Practical tips about Ghent, what to see and how to get there

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lesotho, Malta, Mozambique, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, South Africa

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