ABOUT ME

It's not all about me, and that is why I am on this site.

Apart from that, I am a very curious person. I can get lost in conversation for hours, especially when talking about nature, politics, science or social matters. I realize that most viewpoints are the product of the social circumstances of people.

I read a lot of non-fiction, and like a drink in relaxed bars and the occasional party. I like a drink, a smoke, and a good conversation. I also love to read, I do it as much as possible. Therefore I'm rarely bored. I also enjoy a good laugh and try not to take everything too seriously. I have a sense of humor which might sometimes be interpreted as ironic or sarcastic. I enjoy d

PHILOSOPHY

The only thing I can say with certainty about my philosophy is that it is subject to change depending on circumstance and knowledge (and on the ideas I am studying within a given time) as I try realy hard to prevent intellectual boundaries from arising and keeping open perspectives on visions from all sorts of places (be it books of wisdoms or life-changing words from other people). I am certain that at the most fundamental level this includes respect for others (and the need for egalitarianism in society) and the acknowledgement of the potential of the community and society as a whole as a powerful political actor. Ask me if you're interested!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I did a lot of couchsurfing in North-America and now I would like to give back to the community. I hosted some surfers when I was still living at home and had a great experience every time.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I never had a bad experience, and met a lot of great people that one would otherwise probably not meet. There are so many great things to see and experience, and without the people that show you these often small (but oh so amazing) things, the value of the trip would have been a lot less. Couchsurfing makes you feel less of a tourist. It is unique.

Interests

Nature, science, politics, social issues, people in general, the universe and all things related, history, psychology, ... and the thing that can combine this all together: TRAVEL! I also read all the time, whether it is in books or following current events online. I also like to try new things and see whether they fit me (and a lot of times they don't, but that doesn't mean it's not worth trying!). Card tricks and other 'magic' always fascinate me and I love to learn some.

Apart from that, I have spent a long time in the Australian bush, working and toiling in some of the hottest places in the country. I appreciate the atmosphere in these small towns and have a great deal to tell about working conditions within this forgotten part of the country. Myself being a product of middle-class white society, I am proud to have worked in the most barren and inhumane conditions (as far as the law concerns) and have learned a firm appreciation for the work that is done by the least-appreciated among us.

Recently, I found my calling in life, which is scuba diving. I am currently finding my way as a PADI instructor in Dahab, Egypt.

• books
• acting
• beauty
• perfumes
• instructor
• partying
• drinking
• politics
• traveling
• socializing
• magic
• scuba diving
• swimming
• history
• languages
• law
• psychology
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

It depends, so it's best you ask at the moment!

I have a great many of favourite movies: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, There will be blood, Salvador, The Killing Fields, Shooting Dogs, City of God, Sin Nombre, Waltz with Bashir, Fargo, Sideways,... It's realy too much to sum up. I also like a lot of HBO shows, such as Carnivalè, Rome, The Wire, The Sopranos, ...And of course i love comedy: South Park, American Dad, Drawn Together, Family Guy,

Music: a lot of music dating back 50 years ago: Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Jimmy Hendrix, CCR, Gratefull dead, the Kinks, ... I also appreciate punk and grunge. Apart from that I like drum 'n bass, dubstep, reaggea, ska, balkan, breakcore, junglecore and psytrance.

Books: Mostly books on conflicts, economics and more general social and political issues. And then still so many others. All quiet on the Western Front is one of my favourite fiction books. We Belgians also have a great deal of homegrown comic book writers that have great stories. Currently I'm reading up on Marxist economics.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Meeting people and learn about their perspectives and way of life, and being part of it, even for just a little while.

Getting used to a new lifestyle of constantly getting to know people and eventually leaving too much social anxiety behind. It is a liberation for the hypothetical soul.

Swimming with whale sharks, night-diving, wreck-diving, ...

Teach, Learn, Share

I love diving and I do it pretty much every day. As an instructor, it delights me to be able to teach people how to enjoy the underwater world in a responsible and safe way. Most of all, I get a huge amount of satisfaction out of seeing people improve their diving skills. I will not hesitate to take you to the water!

I speak a few languages, and I always want to learn more. I can also teach some of these. I would like to learn to play some instruments.

As a biotechnologist I can teach you the basics of how life works in the smallest relevant way and show you that everything within a living organism is connected. It's why I studied it in the first place (and not to manipulate nature and sell it to the highest bidder). Truth is, you only learn to manipulate life when you get an understanding of how life realy works. So in my opinion it is one of the most interesting things too few people realy understand. This is a shame, because even though the future influence of our scientific knowledge on the essence of life onto our every day lives will be defined by the people who have an understanding of it. Not just in the field of saving lives, but also in controlling them. That's why everyone should learn how it works, for beauty and for safety for all.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Spain, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Belgium, Egypt, Germany

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