CURRENT MISSION

To explore - try new things, visit new places, meet new people!

ABOUT ME

This is a profile for an international couple, David and Janina living presently in Kyiv, Ukraine. David is from the United States and is studying Russian and working as a consultant while Janina is a German working as a project manager.

Janina and David met in New York City at a conference in 2008. In September 2011 Janina and David found their way to Brussels and in 2014 relocated to Germany. We took a break from CouchSurfing after unsuccessful attempts to find hosts on trips over the past two years and have used AirBnB more often. Now circumstances have taken us to a new city: Kyiv, Ukraine. We may be open to accepting guests again, but we will be more selective.

Since the profile is shared, our interests and language proficiency are shared, meaning one of us or the other speaks the languages fluently. The two of us have lived in a multitude of countries and have experienced diverse cultures in our lives. We're very open to all types of people who are not simply opportunists or insensitive to differences.

Both of us keep ourselves busy with sports and meeting friends, which keeps our lives very active. We don't always go out late partying but we also don't always stay at home to watch a movie. Our approach towards life is very balanced!

As open to people of all religions, we don't necessarily care if you drink alcohol, eat pork/beef or not - or judge you for either. Feel welcome to be yourself, but since we do not push our beliefs onto others, do not try to do it to us either! However, since we love to cook, when surfing with us, please specify any specific dietary problems (whether its allergies or preference) in advance. It is likely you would be invited to a home-cooked meal with us, so any reciprocating gesture is always appreciated!
:-)

Since access to our flat is not too flexible, please do not expect to stay with us on a last-minute basis!

PHILOSOPHY

Each life is a book that cannot be judged by its cover. Some are only a hundred pages of experiences, others are thousands of pages. Its always nice to come across a good life, no matter how short the encounter.

Carpe diem.

Perché sono iscritto su Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

David and Janina hosted often in Brussels. During our travels, we occasionally consider CS an option depending on whether we have friends at our destination or not already.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

May 2011 - Oscar, Jose & Belinda from Mexico (Hosted)
June 2011 - David's brother Ben from the US (Hosted)
June 2011 - Ota from the Czech Republic (Hosted)
July 2011 - Hong from Republic of Korea (Hosted)
August 2011 - Camilla from the Philippines (Hosted)
October 2011 - Joe & Nicole from US (Hosted)
October 2011 - Emily from US (Hosted)
November 2011 Lovely from France (drinks in Lille :)
November 2011 - Nick from US (Hosted)
February 2012 - Jolyn & Jimmy from US (Hosted)
April 2012- Evan & Bonnie from US (Hosted)
July 2012 - Alessandro & Jailton from Brasil (Hosted)
July 2012 - Fabrice from France (Surfed)
July 2012 - Denis from France (Surfed)
July 2012 - Aurelie & Romain from France (Surfed)
August 2012 - Kitchensurfing BXL with Chef Ali from England/Spain (gathering)
October 2012 - Recai from Turkey (Hosted)
November 2012 - Anna-Lisa and Ann-Katrin from Germany (Hosted)
December 2012 - Jan from Belgium (drinks/concert in Ghent)
December 2012 - Fil and Elke from Portugal/Belgium (surfed)
May 2013 - Jana & Lucia in Prague (surfed)
June 2013 - Kate in Plymouth, NH, USA (surfed)
July 2013 - Dominique and Lara, Switzerland (hosted)
July 2013 - Suncica and Maja, Croatia (hosted)
Aug 2013 - Caroline, France (Hosted)
Sept 2013 - Lysmar, Brasil (hosted)
Jan 2014 - Toma and Dimitry, Russia (hosted)
Jan 2014 - Tino and Miri, Germany (Hosted)
May 2014 - Michelle, Canada (Hosted)
May 2014 - Kivanc (Turkey), Laura (Italy), Noemei (France) & Nadine (Germany)
May 2014 - Artem & Lyudmila, Ukraine (Hosted)
May 2016 - Lacerta, Ukraine/Germany (Surfed)
June 2016 - Chef Ali's Kitchensurfing Summer 2016 in Kyiv

We've mostly hosted people in Brussels and enjoyed surfing with locals when we are traveling

Interessi

Languages, cultures, literature (of all kinds and in many languages), music, dancing, Belgian beer and chocolate, wines (especially from Portugal or from New Zealand), board and card games, politics, sociology, the arts, sports of all kinds, cooking, photography....

• arts
• books
• literature
• photography
• concerts
• dancing
• cooking
• chocolate
• beer
• partying
• drinking
• politics
• music
• hiking
• surfing
• bungee jumping
• sports
• cricket
• history
• languages
• religion
• sociology
• tourism
• last minute travel

Musica, film e libri

Music: Pearl Jam, Tryo, Wilco, Lex Barker Experiment, My Morning Jacket, Los Van Van, Kings of Convenience, Red Hot Chili Peppers...

Movies: Little Miss Sunshine, Eternal Sunshine and the Spotless Mind, Seksmisja, Intouchables...

Authors: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Mario Vargas Llosa, Ryszard Kapucin€žski, Jonathan Franzen, Jo Nesbo, JRR Tolkein....Kafka, Shakespeare, Luis Andrade Martinez....

Una cosa incredibile che ho fatto

Janina - Bungee jumping in New Zealand!
David - Hiking in Alaska!

Insegna, impara, condividi

We both have studied American/European politics in university and are extremely interested in views from other parts of the world. We come from distinct backgrounds and appreciate even the views we disagree with.

David loves music (especially live), history and appreciates many sports. He would sure like somebody to try and make sense of cricket for him someday. Ultimate frisbee is his favorite sport to play and teach with strangers! He likes to practice Spanish, French and Portuguese, but always willing help others to learn English too.

Janina has a profound knowledge of the EU, Germany and Poland. She has experience in international development and migration, which guide many of her interests. Janina loves to dance (especially salsa), practice Spanish, Polish and Portuguese while helping others to learn German, English or French.

Paesi che ho visitato

Austria, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Paesi in cui ho vissuto

Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

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