CURRENT MISSION:

I AM RETIRED and have time now to discover other people ,countries/cultures. The most precious thing you can give to people is your time. You may consider me as “old” ( 71) but don’t worry I am not ( yet ) a nasty witch flying about on my broom, nor do I walk with a stick or a rollator. I just go on living my life.

ABOUT ME : I did a lot of jobs in my life: 10 years of teaching. receptionist, theatre critic for a newspaper, elderly care, administration, even cleaning woman. My grandfather used to say : there are no bad jobs, only bad people. Never be ashamed for whatever honest job you do.

I AM AN OPEN MINDED FRIENDLY PERSON, CREATIVE WITH A LOT OF HOBBIES AND YOUNG AT HEART; I HAVE SOME SENSE OF HUMOUR AND APPRECIATE IT ALSO WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
Moreover I am an early bird,I like Coffee and am a flexitarian. I use no drugs and very little alcohol. I am not very much into sports, although I like sometimes swimming, dancing, walking( went to Compostela walking).
I have a quite female style and like beauty and fashion ( I sew with the beautiful fabrics of Antwerp Designers such as Dries van Noten)
Also interior design, brocante, antiques mixed with modern design, flea markets, bohemian style is my way.

PHILOSOPHY

I would like a society with less individuality and egoism. A warmer society, share , but also respect. You have to give and take. Not just take.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I like contact with other people and cultures. I am driven by curiosity, eager to learn. I can afford a hostel/ hotel , but I honestly don’t like this kind of travelling.It is too much sightseeing, too superficial.
I don’t need a chrystal chandelier in my bedroom or a swimming pool when I visit another country, just share ordinary life is more interesting to me.
I am pretty much independent and on my own but I like/ need a certain amount of contact as well. I am genuinly interested in how life is elsewhere and like deep converstion/ discussion.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE:
Up to now I had more good than bad experiences.
I was many times a host and up to now only 3 times a visitor 2 times in Argentina, only once in Paris. I would like to reverse that!
TO FUTURE VISITORS:
I might sometimes help/ inform/ cook/ make a walk/ etc if it suits my own program/mude. If not you’ll have to find out by yourself, which can also be pleasant.
The following rules may sound pretty severe, but due to a few bad experiences I feel forced to note them explicitly below. Don’t worry, I’m not a grey, nasty witch flying on my broom! If you behave, I can be very sweet as well.
HOUSE RULES
1) don’t just to come to my place to save money.
Wonder what YOU can offer to me.
2) I have only space for one person.
3)no drugs/ alcohol/ homeless people
4) when I go out, you go out.
5) you don’t arrive/ come back in the middle of the
night, the next day.
6) don’t change my bathroom into a swimming pool
and don’t use more water than necessary.
7) leave your bed as you found it and clear up your
stuff every day.
8) realise and respect this is MY house and not
yours and don’t trekt me like your staff!

Interests

literature, art, interior design, antiques, travel, politics etc
I was active in plastic arts, such as drawing and painting and have quite some knowledge about artists, since I went to art school for 6 years.
I also like sewing and make some of my own clothes.
I am addicted to newspapers/ magazines and documentaries.

I work with neighbours in a local garden and as such can pick my own tomatoes and vegetables in the middle of the city.

• arts
• literature
• design
• interior design
• politics
• traveling

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy all kinds of books, films, music etc

Because of my study at university (Germanic filology) I had to read quite some classics of European literature, which I enjoyed. Nowadays I attend several reading clubs and read more contemporary texts.
Working in a cinema for one year drew my attention
to film/ movies. It was one of the nicest jobs I ever had.
I like music ( of course) , but unfortunately it is not my talent. and to be honest silence can be beautiful as wel.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Up to now I have a protection angel when I travel. Every time I get in a difficult situation I meet a nice person who helps me out. I hope it will always be like that and it makes me think the world is not so bad after all.

Teach, Learn, Share

In my country there is is a song : “we travel to learn”.
I have quite some talents ( languages, arts etc as you can read In my profile and will apply them with pleasure to help you.
The purpose is to learn from each other. I am flexible and interested.

I am open to any (positive)surprise.

What I Can Share with Hosts

It depends on the situation, on what the host wants, likes, needs and on my capacity to give it.
Once I took a box of the finest Belgian chocolates to
a host. It turned out the lady was diabetic!
I wanted to give and to be nice, but I made the wrong choice, because I didn’t know the people well enough.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bolivia, France, India, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, United Kingdom