CURRENT MISSION

To share kindness and conversation in as many places as possible, and to learn from as many people as possible.

ABOUT ME

Travel has opened my eyes, making me interested and extroverted. I work full time for a Dutch company and don't have the luxury of sprawling trips like before, but take advantage of every opportunity for adventure. My defining character trait is curiosity.

PHILOSOPHY

Embrace serendipity and don't complain.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am incredibly grateful for any person's hospitality of accommodation or showing me around their hometown. My biggest fear when traveling is that I am only skimming the surface, dancing around the country but wholly ignorant of reasons behind things. In learning about other people you learn more about yourself: Couchsurfing is a way I think to interact and gain a picture beyond only the beautiful country.
I take pride in my breakfasts and dish washing.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Once in Portland I was driving around on a Friday night with nowhere to be and saw a weary biker trudging up a hill. A biker myself, I couldn't help but give him a lift to his house. In our conversation on the way there he mentioned that he was a host for couch surferers and offered to give me a referral which goes a long way, if you know what I mean.

Every experience after that has been overwhelmingly positive and some of the best memories I've had.

Interests

I enjoy seeing new people and old friends. I am usually quiet and passionate. I enjoy working, but am always excited for a holiday to see things that are new and interesting; ideas I've never considered. Like reading, dancing, and art museums.

• books
• dancing
• traveling
• backpacking
• soccer
• badminton
• engineering

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm not taking a DVD player in my backpack. Favorite authors: George Eliot, Jack Kerouac, Kazuo Ishiguro, V.S. Naipaul, Gabriel García Márquez.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Two month solo bike trip in Japan

Teach, Learn, Share

[Nerdy stuff] Electrical engineering, adaptive optics, photo-lithography, programming

[Otherwise] Victorian literature, Spanish, Bob Dylan, American government and constitution, Harry Potter, the National Football League, NY Hip Hop

What I Can Share with Hosts

A smile, good stories, enthusiastic listening, dishwashing

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, Spain, United States