CURRENT MISSION

1. Slowing down, feeling and becoming a part of the rhythms of nature in and around me. Finding more authenticity.

2. Cultivating a bond with my new puppy.

ME:
If you don't feel like reading the whole thing just yet: independent, calm, esoteric, loves humans, hot beverages and constructive arguments, quite the hippie (according to most people), into dance and sportsy games.

The most important thing I'm working on is connection, getting more assertive, getting better at
embracing my feels and forming joyful genuine bonds with other creatures :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to get to know people from all over, see what makes them tick, find a way to relate to them, and develop myself further by sharing in various experiences. Nothing beats the feeling of one's heart opening up to new perspectives on love :)

Interests

Haven't updated this section in years. But it's still somewhat representative.

Anything that has to do with the natural world, I want to experience it in many different ways, be it through hiking in different habitats, studying indigenous species, snorkeling/diving through oceans and rivers, or dancing with them :)

Dancing and singing ecstatically is my favorite way to celebrate (let's practice barefoot contact improv!).

As a teenager I used to love reading science fiction books, pc gaming and watching TV series but now I find myself doing less and less of those things for cause of too many other interests getting in the way. I'm so involved in this world that I can't focus very well on other fiction :P

I'm currently learning to play the fiddle, not really any good yet. Update: travelling with a fiddle is cumbersome so now I started playing uke instead :D

My greatest passion is talking to people with different viewpoints and having constructive conversations and debates, I'm definitely in the process of learning how to speak assertively without sounding offensive, so if you also want to train your debating skills, let's talk!

My favorite topics of the moment:

How to help create and nurture a culture of compassion, authenticity, and connection?
Existentialism, spiritual growth, meditative practices
Emotional management & intelligence
The use of psychoactive substances in a therapeutic setting
Nature vs Nurture: How are our minds impacted by our environment and how much control do we have?
Alternative political systems (which are realistic and which are Utopian/Dystopian)
The workings of love and relationships (monogamy/polyamory)
Environmental issues (what should civilians do about it?)
Food-related health issues/benefits
Permaculture, resilience in daily life
Botany!

These are just the first ones popping into my mind but I'm sure you have some intriguing topics of your own!

• chickens
• culture
• tattoos
• music festivals
• lgbt rights
• coffee
• meditation
• walking
• socializing
• rock music
• violin
• hiking
• psychology
• social science
• sociology
• visual arts
• nature
• tea
• spirituality
• sci-fi
• alternative medicine
• veganism
• authenticity
• compassion
• reenactment
• vegetarian cooking
• environmentalism
• vegan cooking
• freeganism
• anarchism
• nvc
• alternative lifestyles
• polyamory
• empathy
• non-violent communication
• psychotherapy
• authentic relating
• circling
• spiritual growth
• metamodernism

Music, Movies, and Books

This section is quite outdated, this is 4 years ago me:

I mostly listen to rock music, any kind of it from country to metal to classic rock, but I'm definitely open to all genres, I like to share my taste in music and discover the taste of others. I've reluctantly been dipping into the world of Hip Hop these last few months and I must say I'm really starting to enjoy it! Right now I love exploring psychedelic genres.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a mainstream band that has had a great impact on my life. Other bands that give me the feels these days are Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Tame Impala, Mumford&Sons, The XX, Glass Animals, and Parkway Drive.

So like I already said I used to watch lots of movies and series. I'm mainly a fan of science-fiction, that kind that really makes you think hard about life, but I can appreciate all.

Some movies I loved watching (in no particular order):

- Her
- American beauty
- Any Lars Von Trier
- The Shawshank Redemption
- Predestination
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Memento
- Shutter Island
- Any Tarantino movie
- The Silence of the Lambs
- Fight Club
- The Big Lebowski
- Guilty pleasures: The Lego Movie , Zootopia and Frozen

And certainly many more but I've seen so many disappointing movies these days that I have trouble remembering the good ones.

My favorite series of the moment is Bojack Horseman, this show helped me cope with existential nihilism in a way I never thought a satirical cartoon could.

I used to love Game of Thrones, to my sorrow I'm now one of these people always ranting about how the books are so much better.

Other series I enjoy:

-Doctor Who
-Rick & Morty
-Sherlock
-House of Cards
-Dexter
-Peaky Blinders
-Sense8
-Firefly

Aaand many others I can't even recall.

Shows I dislike: Black Mirror, it's so poorly done and people don't even seem to notice it cause they're too busy being all "You see that, I always knew technology was going to ruin us!!" Bwah! Update: their interactive episode was lovely!

I don't read as often as I'd want to but I like dramatic stories, Sci-Fi, and mysteries. I'm completely obsessed with A Song of Ice and Fire. I also like to read informative books about self-development, psychology, art, social movements etc.. I'm currently reading The 15 Commitments of Conscious leadership.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I flipped my pancake just right once.

No really, I don't think I feel like answering this question. I think my perception of an amazing thing might be completely different from yours and bringing over what I exactly mean would need too much nuancing to write out on here. Let's talk about it over tea! :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can help you practice your French and/or Dutch

We can jam with voice and instruments, even though I'm not so good at improvisation yet, let's learn together!

We can let loose on Improv dancing :) I can teach you basic techniques.

We can watercolor paint :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

Got quite some botanical trivia under my sleeve, here's one:
Did you know that Yaupon holly, a red berried bush native to the south east US, is the only caffeine-producing plant in the Northern hemisphere?
It's gone quite unnoticed by the general population, as European settlers first discovered it as part of a peculiar Native American ritual... I'll let you guess what the ritual involved, here's a hint: Yaupon Holly's latin name is Ilex Vomitoria!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, United States