CURRENT MISSION

Explore the world, meet new people, make new friends.

ABOUT ME

All about me? Well, that's a lot. Unless you have the time to read my whole life story (feel free to contact me), I can offer you a brief summary:

Hi,

my name is Tijs and I come from a little country called Belgium. Located between the Netherlands, France and Germany, we are easily overlooked on the world map. To make things more complicated we speak three different languages in Belgium (Dutch, French and German) and have even more governments!

But, as you might have figured out by now, I'm not living in Belgium anymore. Long story short: I ended up in Oklahoma City for a post-doc. I can offer you a small and/or a big couch.

Gentle and easy-going are the words that describe my personality best. But I'm also adventurous and sometimes very impulsive. I like spending time with my friends, having fun or discussing things (science, technology, politics, global events, you name it).

I have many hobbies of which running, swimming, volleyball, climbing and mountaineering are the most important. I have recently learned how to lindy hop (swing dancing), so from time to time you may find me on the dance floor. If there is enough time left, I also enjoy playing and watching theatre.

I like to travel to distant countries, search for the less walked paths, explore new cultures and meet new people. If life is a play, I would like to meet as much actors from as much places in the world as possible.

PHILOSOPHY

Never stop exploring (ok, I admit, I stole this one from The North Face), but I think this is also true for me.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Well, a long long time ago, when even the animals were still able to speak, I registered on this site. Until a few years ago, I never used it, because on most of my trips I had a tent with me (which was a great host, but it always forget to write a reference).

Now, it's time for a new chapter in my travelling carreer in which I would like to spend more time with/in the local communities.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I love the small and simple things in life. I've spend nights in traditional Mongolian yurts to cosy apartments in Canada. The generosity and hospitality, the conversations about everything-and-nothing with my hosts are things I will never forget.

I've spend a few extraordinary nights couchsurfing in Teheran and Isfahan. I'll never forget these eye-opening experiences, thanks to my wonderful hosts.

Interests

Climbing and mountaineering, cycling and mountainbiking, a good book and a nice play, a joly conversation and a philosophical debate. Meeting new people and spending time with old friends. A sunset in the desert and a sunrise on the top of a mountain.

Music, Movies, and Books

The unbearable lightness of being, one hundred years of solitude, a song of ice and fire

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

With a few friends, I drove a car from Belgium to Mongolia (more than 12.000km!). I can tell some amazing stories about that trip.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to balance on a slackline or how to do a cross step or walk the plank on a longboard. If you're up for it, I could try to explain the complexity of the Belgian polictical system, elaborate on the evolution theory of Darwin, discuss about the life and the universe, teach you how to dance lindyhop or just tell a tale.

I consider myself too young to be preaching life wisdom on the corner of the street, but if you hang around long enough, I might share my life philosophy with you.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Pancakes!

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Switzerland, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Canada, United States