CURRENT MISSION

Getting a science degree to save the world.

ABOUT ME

The Transsiberian Railway took me to Russia and China. Crossed Vietnam and Cambodia on a Motorbike. Thailand, Malaysia Indonesia and East Timor by bus + boat. Eventually managed to somehow get to Australia without a flight.
Worked there and traveled a bit (Westcoast) and then returned home.

Now at University Innsbruck trying to figure out science.

PHILOSOPHY

So here’s the thing:
I had this spiritual awakening (I guess) after I travelled for more than a year. Learned a lot about myself, reflected on society and proudly labelled myself a Hippie. Awareness, Nutrition, Quantum Mechanics, you name it.

What then happened was getting back to society and painfully figuring out that there is a difference between thinking something and actually living it. Compromises had to be made and priorities needed to be adjusted. What they call real life I guess...

Now I would still label me a Hippie but find myself in between those two worlds. I recently decided not to fight but to appreciate the state of uncertainty. I like to think that truth is actually the difference between perception and reality and therefore relative, not absolute. Making this “in between” my home seems to be the only way to inner peace.

Additionally I figured out that I feel a strong moral responsibility towards people and society. Humanity. I thought aiming for my personal happiness would get me to a permanent state of being content but it never did. I found myself in a place where I had everything I ever wanted but still felt unsatisfied. That was when this quote from Einstein hit me:

"Everybody has certain ideals which determine the direction of his endeavors and his judgments. In this sense I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves — such an ethical basis I call more proper for a herd of swine."

Personal ease and happiness still are my favorite state of mind and soul for sure but I now know they are:
1. Not permanent
2. Just the beginning.

The goal must be to look beyond those interpersonal challenges in order to inspire others and support them in their personal processes while still working on your own. How? I don't know. But I will try!

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Some quotes that have been on my mind:

"Don't take life too serious, it isn't permanent." - Slogan of a hostel in Hanoi

"As long as you don't choose, everything remains possible." - Mr. Nobody
EDIT: Sometimes you have to choose and it enriches your life. Everything being possible is often way less satisfying than choosing for what you want.
2nd EDIT: Man, choices are hard to be made. "One of the hardest decisions in life is whether to give up or try harder".
3rd EDIT: More is less, less is more. Paradox of choice...Fascinating.

"Knowledge is an illusion and everyone's perception is the sum of his/her experiences and education" - Personal epiphany

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." - Oscar Wilde

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Offering my couch to all those great people out there in order to learn and inspire each other to taking a positive perspective.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Stayed on one 'Couch' for several month and had a great time (thanks Matt!)
Every city comes with it's people. Love it.

Interests

Traveling (guess what!)
Observing
Listening
People
Movies
Sports (Snowboarding, Skiing, Volleyball, Mountain biking, Swimming)

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to music almost every free minute I have. I do not have a certain kind of music I like most, i like good music of all kinds. German Rap however is the most frequently listened genre. The positive, optimistic kind of rap. Not focused on money and the other sex and how they apparently relate...

Movies:
2001 - A Space Odyssey
Mr. Nobody
Brazil
Clerks
12 Monkeys
and pretty much every Woody Allen Movie.

Authors/Books:
Narcissus and Goldmund - Hermann Hesse
A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M. Pirsig
How I see the World - Albert Einstein
Modern Romance - Aziz Ansari
...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Traveling from Germany to Australia without a flight.

To quote Google on this: "Sorry, we could not calculate walking directions from "Munich, Germany" to "Darwin NT, Australia".

Fair enough I didn't walk. Haha

Teach, Learn, Share

Always be real. Always be truthful.

Sharing is caring. Daring is caring.

Embrace vulnerability even though it sucks in the first place.

"When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap." - Cynthia Heimel

What I Can Share with Hosts

Food, stories, deep conversations, a strong opinion on many things that is open for alteration.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Austria, Germany, United States