Somebody told me that the more references you have, the shorter the profile text should be. So it's becoming quite short at this point 🙂

Hi! I'm a writer, director, music maker, language enthusiast, all-around art and culture geek.

I like music, healthy food, ball sports, card games, nature and special weird places off the main track. Right now I'm living in a renovation project in rural Finland, and I would very much like to meet people in that remote country.

Our home is in Jyväskylä/Laukaa in central Finland. We are married couple from Belgium and Finland and have travelled around the world in 2016. On our trip we met many amazing people and got hosted by this great community of people. We prefer good nature walks, chats and a cup of tea :).

I love traveling and learning about different cultures! I like organic experiences whenever i am traveling that's why i prefer to meet the locals and see the places from their perspective. :)

CURRENT MISSION To live, because this is my life and how I make it to be depends on me. To love, because it is the thing that makes all else meaningful. To laugh, because it is the best thing in a person and when it comes from the heart it is the most pure way of expressing your joy and soul. To grief, because ups and downs belong into life and all that there is to be good would not be as valuable if there were no sorrow, or pain. Tears mean love. ABOUT ME I am a balanced and calm person. "Don´t let others behavior destroy your inner peace", as Mr Lama says. But when needed, I can be a hard ass warrior as well. I don´t have a need to please anyone and I don´t pretend sth that is not there. I am what I am and there is no way I am giving up on my own values because of pressures or expectations from others; I was always this little thing walking my own paths, and it made it probably easier that my family moved every few years so that I had to have a strong sense of who I am. I am the same to everyone, I don´t bow to authorities, only if they deserve it. It doesn´t matter who you are, what do you work in or how much money or power you have, but it matters the world how you make others around you feel, do you acknowledge them, do you connect with them, and do you care. I am also straight forward and honest, because I believe it is only fair. Towards all of us. So please people see through your expected cultural biases, and hear what a person is saying. It matters more how you say things, rather than what you say. A load of crap doesn´t become less crap with "please" or "thank you". Oh, and also talking crap about someone is not my interest. Its probably not my business. Except if someone is harming someone else, then it may become my business. Just be what you are, back and front. And judging is another questionnable behaviour, that I have never understood, pls don´t do that either. Except in the purpose of bringing joy to that person. And maybe a little to yourself. But be careful, Karma strikes back.

CURRENT MISSION Know countries in Europe ABOUT ME I work in IT. I am very friendly. I like meeting new people. I have started travelling to Europe and plan to travel to more destinations in the near future.

Actively changing to BeWelcome and Couchers now; prefer requests that way. 👨‍🏫🗣️ I'm a language teacher / researcher at the university here in Jyväskylä. And since I'm a teacher, I know I can learn something from everybody. That's the beautiful thing about Couchsurfing. Every day is a chance to learn something new and meet a new person. 🥬 I'm mostly vegetarian, but I can flex when travelling, since it isn't always easy to find good vegetarian or vegan food everywhere. Expect vegetarian food at my home always. 🌈 I'm gay, so if that's a problem, well, it's your problem, not mine. 🦉🪺 I'm into birding - meaning that I like to listen, look and observe them. ⛺ Hiking and camping are great fun! When combined with birding, even better. 🚲 In my everyday life, I take the bicycle everywhere. I don't have a car. 🎭 I enjoy arts, especially: theatre, museums, classical music, musical theatre and opera. 🍺 I sometimes drink alcohol - depends on the company. Less and less these days. 🎲 Board games and video games are fun... 📚 ...but books are even better! PHILOSOPHY Life is amazing. Everything's ok! ps. Don't send me copy-pasted requests, I won't accept you. Use AirBnb if you don't want to put any effort into this :) also, send a request, not a message ;)