Hi there! My name is Rik, I'm a 29 year old who just moved to Leiden, the Netherlands. I hold a Ba degree in social studies as a teacher and an MA in African Studies. Currently I work as a Communication Officer at the African Studies Centre of Leiden University.

Along with traveling, music, cooking and creative writing, Africa is my absolute passion and I dare to say that African Studies has become my life work. Other places of interest are the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

My key words are: trustworthy, caretaking, open minded, cosmopolitan and a bit geeky.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'd love to meet people with a whole different background who enrich and inspire me. Besides, it's a great way to get to know a new culture, make new friends across the globe and to be an ambassador of my own country.

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: from stoner metal to new age, from indie to world music.

Movies: horror, documentaries, fantasy, drama

Books: infotainment, classical literature.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've been interviewed for the Iranian national television, was arrested by the Uzbek police (and released!) and I was attacked by an elephant in Zimbabwe.

Teach, Learn, Share

Everyone has a story to tell, let me hear yours!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm quite a fact geek, so you'll probably leave with dozens of anecdotes to bore your friends back home with ;-).

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, Zambia