CURRENT MISSION

Foster the cultural & organizational transition towards sustainability, especially at and through universities.

ABOUT ME

Calm, honest and deepgrounded, much appreciating authentic conversations, love exploring different (and reflecting on our own) cultures and world views. Im all in for social change and would consider myself rather ambitiously visionary in this regard, yet not too naively idealistic, trying to ground grand dreams in current reality.
In my studies and in my life I want to work to connect society and the environment in way that is based on peaceful cooperation and thriving sustainability. I want to bring together, to unite and to integrate all pieces of the puzzle, including science, art and spirituality, etc, and so to (learn how to) see the bigger picture.
I lived in a community of 11 people in a squatted building where we shared all the space, food and good times, as well as hosted a community center called the Mandril Cultural and Political Center.
I co-initiated and worked at the Green Office, a student-driven and staff supported sustainability hub, at Maastricht University, and am currently busy spreading the Green Office model internationally and supporting students and staff in applying the model at their own universities (we have 26 so far!) as trainer and social entrepreneur at rootAbility.

I'm also really interested in all the positive change-making movements happening around the world like Transition Towns, Impact Hubs, Ecovillages, Social Innovation Labs, basic income, etc which are promoting positive solutions rather than only criticizing the existing system.

PHILOSOPHY

Love life and life will love you.
Ok that's pretty cheesy..
knowledge and wisdom are two parts of the same coin..
ok that too..
I guess it comes down to something like: you create your reality, so better become conscious about how you unconsciously create, learn to become more aware and thereby wise about it, seek to overcome the habitual barriers in yourself and others that create unfavorable realities.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I used to have a really cool experience to offer at our previous place: a squatted where we built a nice little community and cooperative cultural center with regular activities: jamsessions on tuesdays, yoga, dance, theater, and more.

We have hosted a number of couchsurfers there but I dont live there anymore. I moved to Rotterdam recently and am sharing a room with my girlfriend at the moment, so we don't really have space to host anybody. But once we get a more spacious appartment, we might start hosting people again.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

hosted a number of CSers so far which was a great experience, all such lovely people. Everyone was quite amazed by what we had transformed this house into and all the activities happening here... Have only surfed once myself so far in England.

Interests

• photography
• dancing
• education
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• science
• spirituality
• sustainability
• social innovation

Music, Movies, and Books

Herman Hesse: Siddharta
Basarab Nicolescu: Manifesto of Transdisciplinarity
Henri Bortoft: Taking Appearances Seriously

Movies: The Matrix, The Fountain, The Tree of Life, Cloud Atlas

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

lived and studied in India for three years at two international schools as well as in the US for one and a half years... amazing to have seen so much of the world so early in life.
More recently I went to an ecovillage in Portugal called Tamera and a buddhist community in France called Plum Village... Highly recommended!
jumped head first from a 14m high crane into the Maas river (that was scary)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach and share yoga, photography, meditation, playing the didgeridoo, beatboxing, listening, designing in Photoshop and editing photos in Lightroom..
I'd love to learn more about permaculture, community living, cooking, 'free energy' devices.

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Mexico, Portugal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, India, Netherlands, United States