I am back on CS after a couple of years off (covid didn't help...).
Now that we have a proper house to host, I am back again !

I was a big fan of CS as I was a student (2012-2017 mostly, for the time I lived in the US / Germany / Haiti and other travels), using it both as a traveller and a host. I met truely incredible people through this website and I am only looking forward to letting it do its magic again !

The difference now is that I would be hosting and travelling most of the time with my now-husband Geoffroy, who also has a lot of travel experience, albeit in different contexts (for him : mostly in South-East Asia, where I have never been, and not using CS specifically).

Now a bit about me... In spite of all my worries and sense of rebellion about the environmental crisis and social injustice, I would say I really love human beings in general : listening to people develops a sense of empathy that I believe is very beneficial to us all. I have lived in a great variety of contexts : by myself, with roomies, in a vegan community for a year... I made friends with various political views and different religions. I now feel comfortable both with activists / believers of all sorts as well as with more conservative people or non-believers. I think everyone has precious stories to tell !

I consider myself agnostic, in the sense that I am looking for the truth but with no presumption that I will ever have the ability to find it. I have a lot to learn from others.

Some fields of interest : ecology, agriculture, education, motherhood, religions and spirituality, philosophy, literature...

When traveling, I like to walk / bike my way around and explore, which is to me the best way to feel a place and to open myself to the unexpected. (We don't have a car so I also just do that on a day-to-day basis ;) !)

My personal philosophy (this is from the old CS - so was probably written somewhere around 2012 ! - but I keep it because I liked this section and it is still relevant):
- Get out of your comfort zone and get to meet people.
- Be open-minded and critical, understand the reality of things.
- Be the change you want to see in the world (I took that one from Gandhi of course...)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

When I first heard of couchsurfing (back in 2011!), I thought it was completely crazy. Now I think it makes perfect sense, and I couldn't imagine travelling without it. Although it seems to me that in the past years CS hasn't been working as efficiently as it used to : is it because of airbnb or because it has lost some of its original spirit ?

I use couchsurfing mainly to meet people, be it when I am home or abroad. Whenever I have time, I am very happy to show people around and trade stories.

The experiences I had with couchsurfing were always very good, sometimes even life-changing. I am hoping to make more !

Interests

Very keen on languages.
I love to play music. I like to cook (creative cooking rather than following recipes!).
I'm interested in everything that sustains life: agroecology, permaculture, non-violent communication, meditation, spirituality, education. Now my job has to do with agroecology, which is both absolutely thrilling and challenging !
I also enjoy sharing about literature, religions, social/environmental issues.
I'd say I'm curious to learn new things in general!

• singing
• education
• cooking
• socializing
• agriculture
• geography
• history
• languages
• nature
• permaculture
• motherhood
• religions & spirituality

Music, Movies, and Books

- movies : Melancholia, De rouille et d'os, Amour, Hair, Big Fish, Good Bye Lenin, Das Leben der anderen, Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, The Artist, Pina...

- series : not that much into series I must say. Going out is much more fun!

- music :
Mostly old-school French artists lately: Nino Ferrer, George Moustaki, Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, Jacques Dutronc, Barbara ... But also: Annett Louisan, Manu Chao, Mecano, Jason Mraz, the Misa Criolla...

- authors : Simone Weil, Christian Bobin, Albert Camus, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Emmanuel Carrère, Etty Hillesum

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I worked as a guide in the sewers of Paris when I was 16.

I took the train across the US (and what a ride!).

I sailed across the Atlantic twice on a freighter.

Teach, Learn, Share

In every conversation there is an opportunity to learn and to teach. This is what I like the most about couchsurfing !
I guess part of me has a lot to do with my French culture and my student culture (my background is management, history, geography, philosophy, literature, languages, environmental science). One year in Haiti volunteering in a permaculture project also definitely shaped me a lot (2015-2016).
But well, let's talk / hang out and see what happens !

What I Can Share with Hosts

My stories, my good mood, my smile! :)
I love to cook, so would be happy to make something for you if you like.

And of course I am always ready to help out with anything if needed.
Or stay in the background if you need time / space for yourself :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Germany, Haiti, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Germany, Haiti, United States

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