ABOUT ME

I'm a down-to-earth, sincere and happy guy. I have a positive outlook on life and value people and friendship. I enjoy laughing and being spontaneous and am open-minded.

I grew up in South Africa, first in Nelspruit and a game reserve near the Kruger National Park (where us kids walked with my mother to the nearby lodge which had electricity so we could do washing, only to have to wait for the elephants to get out of the road.. we also had a lion cub as a pet for a few weeks after it was deserted by its pride). Then we moved to the Cape, to Hermanus, with it's beautiful ocean and whales and mountains and fynbos vegetation.. all things I miss a lot while studying in Europe. But I'm very grateful to be able to study in Europe, with the incredible richness of history and culture, so very different from my homeland. Also, being a classical musician, it's incredibly inspiring to study in an environment where so much music was born and so many composers and musicians lived.

PHILOSOPHY

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Appreciation and gratitude are the key to a fulfilled life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've only had very positive CS experiences, both surfing and hosting.

Interests

Apart from the piano and classical music, I'm also a language enthusiast and like to practice my Italian, French, Spanish and a bit of Russian when I can. I like exploring new places (by foot or by bike). I love the outdoors and nature. I enjoy cooking (vegan food) and learning about health and fitness. I like to read.

• pets
• culture
• beauty
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• vegan
• fitness
• music
• classical music
• piano
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• surfing
• scuba diving
• swimming
• history
• languages
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

some books i really enjoyed: Catcher in the Rye; Crime and Punishment; The Count of Monte Christo; Great Expectations; Anna Karenina; The Importance of Being Earnest; The Great Gatsby; Lord of the Rings; The Name of the Rose; The Little Prince; The Alchemist; Jane Eyre; To Kill a Mocking-Bird; For Whom the Bell Tolls; Diary of a Madman; Everything Is Illuminated

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Swimming at the beach in Betty's Bay, South Africa, only to be joined by three massive bottlenose dolphins!
White river rafting in the Andes, near Mendoza.
Shark-cage diving in Gaansbaai, SA.
Playing Mendelssohn's first Piano Concerto with orchestra in the Gewandhaus, Leipzig.

Teach, Learn, Share

I enjoy practising languages and talking about linguistic differences. I did a French-English tandem for a semester and thought it was great.

If you have a piano and would like a lesson, any time!

I can show you how to make tasty vegan food : )

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Botswana, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, South Africa, Switzerland