Hi there!

I'm Jolan, a curious and warm-hearted musician, psychologist and, off course, traveller! After hitchiking back home from Singapore to Antwerp some years back, I settled down a bit. I bought a house with my best friend, where with live in a cohousing with five people, and where I have my office as a psychotherapist, a job I really enjoy and am passionate about.

Music is a quite important part of my life. I try to play as much as possible and do some gigs from time to time, mostly with my own band (IJsbrand), where I sing my own (Dutch) songs. I mainly sing and play the piano. But for travelling I take my guitalele with me.

As many people here, I travel whenever I can. It's one of the many ways of combining adventure, a passion for diversity and people, and learning. Lets always try to contribute to the things we believe in :-).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

My couchsurfing experiences have been amazing so far! Hitchhiking and couchsurfing in Japan by myself for five weeks was definitely the most memorable of those. Apart from that I couchsurfed a lot in Iran, Turkey, Taiwan and some in India.
I hosted people from time to time in my student room in Antwerp and am happy that since recently I can start hosting again!

I participate in couchsurfing because I believe it represents some very important values that I want to live by and that I find are often lacking. E.g. trust, hospitality, open-heartedness, sharing and an interest for diversity.

Interests

As mentioned, one of my greatest passions is playing music (piano and singing), as well alone as with anyone I meet. I can be very passionate about simple things as afternoon coffees, a good book, dancing salsa, people on the street..

I like to always have new input. Especially when it comes to languages, psychology (I have mainly been focusing on psychoanalysis the last few years), philosophy but also more exact sciences as physics and biology. If the person teaching me is passionate, I will be too.

Music, Movies, and Books

Always a hard question.. I will simply write down the things that first come to mind.

MUSIC
Paul Simon
Jackson Brown
Imaginary Future
Bent Van Looy
Douwe Bob
Joni Mitchel
Jamie lidell

BOOKS
Haruki Murakami's books
Alain De Boton
De ontdekking van de hemel by Harry Mullisch
hundred years of loneliness by Marquez
...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I was eighteen, I moved to La Paz, Bolivia for a year to volunteer in childrens homes. I mainly did creative work, basic care taking, and after some time, coordinating a group of volunteers. I've learned a lot there and it has influenced me greatly. Had the best year of my life so far!

Teach, Learn, Share

Id love to learn so many things! Languages, different art forms, playing instruments, cooking... Teach me what you are passionate about and I am sure I'll like it. You will do me a pleasure doing so.

I always love playing music together :) and making food.

Things I might be able to teach you are: piano, poi (google some pictures if you dont know it), languages (dutch, spanish, english, frensh), maybe some singing, psychoanalysis :D

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bolivia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Bolivia, France