My name is Desi and I am a 23-years old female from the Netherlands. I grew up in a small town next to the beach and so I would call the ocean my home. I have always felt a strong connection with water and this increased even more after having discovered surfing.

I enjoy small moments over big achievements. Am a huge animal lover, climate activist and daydreamer.
I enjoy watching the moon and the stars, the patterns bird create in the sky and the seasons changing.

I would describe myself as down-to-earth, sometimes chaotic, sometimes calm. I am at my happiest surrounded by nature.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am a 3rd year Cultural Anthropology bachelor student and will write my thesis on hospitality and trust within the Couch-surfing community.
Cultural Anthropology is a Social Science which studies human beings within their surrounding and as being part of their grander culture. The starting point is always the one person you are speaking with and their view on a societal issue/life/nature. So when writing this thesis I am interested in what you have to say and how you have been introduced to this platform, what your motivation is to share your home or create memories.

I would love to invite you into my home this April and listen to your stories and couch-surf experiences. Let's also create some new memories together and let me offer you a laid-back Amsterdam experience.

I have decided to write my thesis on couch surfing, because I belief there is a huge beauty in people spending their time being curious about the others around them and letting themselves be surprised by what life can give/teach them. I am interested in how people on this platform view the concept of home and sharing and how they actively create a safe space where others can feel at home too.

Interests

• yoga
• reading
• drawing
• live music
• anthropology
• nature
• turtles
• mindfulness
• surf
• asian food
• ocean conservation

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite music: Alice Phoebe Lou, Phoebe Bridgers, Men I Trust, Mac de Marco, Bombay Bicycle Club, Ben Howard

Books: 1q84 by Haruki Murakami , Chowa by Akemi Tanaka (Japanese book about actively creating balance), Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimananda Ngozi

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Trekking through the mountains of Nepal

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you some yoga, preferably in the grass outside of my home or in a park.

Otherwise, hanging with the chickens, going bouldering or making some percolator coffee.

I can introduce you into some anthropological topics and I would love to hear your view on it.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Mostly mindfulness and yoga, some qigong, good conversations on finding balance within societal debates/friendships/ yourself/family, making art.

Countries I’ve Visited

England, Finland, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Nepal, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands