My name is Peter John from Belgium.

THANKS TO ALL THE HOST(ESSE)S WHO TREATED ME AS A BROTHER! AND ALL MY GUESTS AND THEIR PETS FOR STAYING WITH ME!

Do not hesitate to ask me if you want to know anything about me, your or my stay, or if I can help you in any way (from physical labour to mental support).

I travel with a sleeping bag, a mattress and a tent, and I sleep on the floor. I don't smoke, like all pets and plants, and I live a very simple life.

Your plans trump mine (since I make time): if you have time and like it, I will spend time with you, if it is not possible for you, I am happy to be alone or to stay with your pets.

I have learned and taught in Asia and Europe and I visited half of all countries in the world (am too lazy to mention the 104 in the list below...).
Hitchhiking: twice through the Sahara from north to West Africa, around South Africa and neighbouring countries, in South America, Siberia and Asia. Cycling: in 2014 I travelled by bicycle from Singapore to Europe through all Southeast Asian countries, China, all Central Asian countries, Iran, Armenia, Georgia. 12,000 km cycling in India and wrote a guidebook for foreign (esp. female) students. In 2017 I cycled for 11 months in 24 European countries incl. from Malta to Moscow (by now only 1 country in Europe is still missing on my cv, ha!).
In November 2018 I left Europe to travel over land to the other end of Eurasia (incl. 2 months cycling completely around Taiwan and giving talks in 20 schools). From the very start of Covid I was in China and refused to be repatriated (couldn't leave my Chinese friends behind), so for 2 years I travelled to all Chinese provinces but 1. End 2021 I crossed the border to Hong Kong and slept 6 months in my tent because of COVID only 2 hosts accepted me for a few nights and all campings and cheap hostels were closed. Next was 3 months cycling around Korea. Via Saudi Arabia I arrived back in Europe and cycled from Geneva to Brussels. After 4 years on the road I reunited with my happy relatives and friends in November 2022.
In 2023 from April until November I've travelled over land to 26 countries from Portugal to Georgia. In 2024 I cycled again in Korea and crossed over by ferry to cycle in Japan.
Now I am back in Europe.

Volunteering: includes - but not limited to - free language tuition and correction, pet (cats to snakes), plant and house sitting, house cleaning, repairs, farm and gardening work, travel advice (100+ countries off the beaten track), simple and cheap life coaching, environmental awareness and actions, women empowerment, human rights counselling, cultural diversity training.

The journey is the destination, but the longest trip is the journey to our inside.

CURRENT MISSION

I quit my job to travel, volunteer and help full time in every country.

To visit the other half of all countries in the world.

To learn about and respect other values and cultures.

ABOUT ME

Happy to meet people and discover new places.

PHILOSOPHY

I wonder.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I inform people in many countries about Couchsurfing so they too can experience staying with locals or hosting travellers, even those who do not even own a couch!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Host(esse)s, please REPLY when you receive a request: YES or NO, instead of not replying at all, which leaves one in unhelpful limbo while time is running out to contact other host(esse)s. Examples: 52 personalised requests in Sarajevo to stay for 2 nights, but 0 invitations. 195 personalised requests in 2 months cycling in Japan, 7 invitations. 46 personalised requests in London to stay for 3 nights, 1 invitation. Unfortunately many CSers I had sent requests to could not access their accounts because they did not give in to the voluntary contribution extortion.
I've had only good experiences except once when a host complained after I'd left: be honest, if there is ANY issue, SPEAK OUT while I am present.

Interests

Nature and how I can limit my damage to it, meeting, helping and respecting people, animals and plants from all backgrounds.

• cats
• dogs
• books
• cycling
• mountaineering
• hitchhiking
• cultural immersion
• laughing
• inspiring people
• sleeping
• cleaning
• helping
• dreaming
• volunteer
• wild camping
• pancakes
• story telling
• alternative lifestyles
• alternative education
• dumbsterdiving
• women empowerment
• nature conservation
• women's rights
• rockclimbing
• baking cakes
• responsible tourism
• multicultural and gender diversity training
• belgian chocolate waffles french fries
• do to others what you want them to do to you

Music, Movies, and Books

Contemporary and classical music from all continents, non-fiction books, Bollywood and other -wood movies.
Too many books, too little time to read them...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I came to this planet just like that without asking, without choosing within which lines on the map or with which skin/eye/hair colour, without knowing what will happen next, without any certainty (but death and taxes!) and (yet?) I am amazingly happy!

Teach, Learn, Share

Languages, life wisdom, history, story telling, helping and sharing time with my guests, host(esse)s and their pets if they like it.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My respect, appreciation, my mind, my time, my energy, my memories, my hands, my knowledge and experience (incl. cleaning) in half of all countries.

Countries I’ve Visited

Lesotho, San Marino, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Turkmenistan, Åland Islands

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, India, Malaysia, Réunion

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