My name is Rieke (yes, that is the name that is printed on my passport and is pronounced as you would the name "Enrique" without the En-)

Current mission:
- studying to become a teacher for children with special needs
- trying out as much as I can while being a student
- coordinating events for international students at Leipzig University with WILMA Leipzig
- learning every day how to handle a long-distance relationship

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

During the last years I noticed that if you travel to countries it is not about the places you visit, which stay as memories in your mind.
It is more about the people, who make your experience to an unforgettable one. That is also what I experienced during the few couchsurfing experiences I made.

For this reason I want to participate in couch surfing and the community around it. I want to meet (more) interesting people, who have a story to tell, learn from them and after all get to know the countries from a local’s perspective.

Interests

• salsa dancing
• yoga
• surfing
• volleyball
• learning languages
• musicals
• self-improvement
• stand up paddle
• reading and writing

Music, Movies, and Books

I have read so far quite a lot of books but I used to read more in my free time. During busy times, however, it is now not always easy to incorporate this habit into my everyday life. Same for movies.

There are as well different kinds of music I love, e.g. chart-music, 80’s, but also musical and film scores and Latin American music. During the pandemic I particularly rediscovered my passion for musicals. Generally, music is key. It is truely a life saver and has helped me going through some dark times.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbing (almost literally!) Table Mountain in Capetown this year.

Going surfing in various countries - so far in South Africa, France, Portugal and Australia

Taking dancing lessons at age 17, through which I encountered one of my true passions.

Spending one exchange semester in beautiful Salamanca/Spain

Being an active member of our local student ERASMUS initiative (WILMA Leipzig)

Teach, Learn, Share

For very sportive human beings I can teach how to make a forward flip on a trampoline, which I have practiced myself since I was six years old.

I am also an instructor for Salsa Cubana for students at Leipzig Hochschulsport, so might be able to teach you some dancing skills

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories about experiences that I made in the 27 years of my life, which I feel are quite many so far, and the amount of new ones is currently growing with every new month.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Germany, South Africa, Spain