CURRENT MISSION

Cultiver notre jardin (Voltarie)

ABOUT ME

After spending 3 years of my teenage life in a different country and attending the International school of SHAPE in Belgium, it was natural for me to become a language expert and to be extremly passionate and curious about other cultures and languages. I hate mass tourism, package holidays and the like and I adore travelling slowly, taking time to mix with the local people and learn as much as possible about the local culture.
My partner and I got together in 2001 and lived happily everafter with our two cats, Jennyanydots and Velour.

PHILOSOPHY

I think the world we live in is too frenzy, I like everything that is slow and gives you time to appreciate what you are experiencing (the region where I live is the capital of the Slow Food movement!). I believe taking time to discuss and know people is one of the things we can do to live in a better world, so I love long discussions about all kinds of topics. I also believe in long-lasting relationships and I love to keep in touch with old friends.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

We hosted a few people in our house and I stayed with Stina in Stockholm. All were great, enriching experiences!

Interests

I love the theatre, I like watching live performances and I am part of an amateurial company. I love moving around by bike (it is my main means of transport). I consider myself an environmentalist and I am interested in politics. And, of course, I am interested in languages and cultures!

• cats
• culture
• dining
• politics
• traveling
• cycling
• teaching
• languages
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

My favourite contemporary writers are Margaret Atwood, A.S. Byatt and Jonathan Coe. Favourite films: A Clockwork Orange (I love Kubrick in general), Persepolis, Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Breakfast at Tiffany's.
I adore Alice in Wonderland, books, film, cartoon and anything that refers to her.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Watching the sunrise on top of a Volcano in Maui Island (Hawaii)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can help guests who want to improve their Italian or their English. I am convinced it is important to keep languages alive, so I like having conversations in a mix of languages (not always English, please!) knowing that understanding is much more than grammar and syntax. At the same time, I am a language teacher, so you just need to ask and I can switch to my "teaching mode" and help you achieving a more idiomatic use of the language.

Countries I’ve Visited

Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Italy, United Kingdom