CURRENT MISSION

I love to meet new people from all around the world! RIGHT NOW I'M NOT LIVING IN MOLDE SO I'M NOT ABLE TO ACCEPT GUESTS.

ABOUT ME

I have visited some 60 countries and love to meet people from all over the world. I'd like to show you how we live in Norway/Molde and take you out to see our beautiful, wonderful scenery and the city. And then discuss religion, philosophy and politics with you over a glass of beer or wine - and find out how you and I can give a tiny contribution to make this world a better place for all:)
I have been married twice and have three children. My oldest daugther is living in Oslo, my youngest studying political science (as her father;-)) and my son live with his mother here in Molde.
I was a long-time student (8 years at three different universities) and started my working career establishing a bookstore after graduation (since I love literature...). After that I started out as a journalist (in 1985) and have been working in the press since then both in Molde, Oslo, the Lofoten Islands and then back here. I was an editor for nine years in two different newspapers. I have been teaching/coaching highschool students journalism. Since September 2000 I have been working as a freelancer for 70-80 newspapers and for more than 130 different national magazines. I report from the county of More og Romsdal and also from abroad - usually I do 4-5 travels each year both in Europe and overseas. This year (2008) I've been to Italy (Milan) in February, China in April, St. Petersburg in June - going to Alicante (Spain) in September, New York City and several islands in the Carribbean in November.
My interests are literature and politics (both national and international), music and I love hiking the Norwegian mountains in all seasons.
In 2007 I also wrote a book about the history and development of the biggest industrial adventure in Norway ever; the Ormen Lange offshore gasfield.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe in people, in you and me(!); that you and I decide the shape of the world we live in - that we can make a difference... I am an atheist/humanist and liberal/socialst - my belief is that the "meaning of life" is nothing but life itself. It makes me angry and sad to see anyone trying to restrict other peoples' freedom in any aspect of life; as long as you do not hurt anybody you should be allowed to live the life you choose. I oppose strongly the death penalty (whatever the crime) and that anybody but the woman herself should decide if she wants to end a pregnancy. It angers me extremely when Christians (or people of any religion) say including everybody is their main object, but when it comes to homosexuals/lesbians it's another matter... 15 years old I left the Lutheran Church in Norway and at 19 I denied doing military service and became a conscientious objector (at that time we'd have to do public service for 18 months as a punishment - while the military service was 12).
I'm eager to stress that I'm accepting any religious views (and guests!); I see myself as a tolerant person. Even though I disagree strongly with whatever the views of my opponent might be, I feel it's her or his absolute right to express them freely!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I primarily see me as a host - not as a guest.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I remember one episode: I was hitch-hiking from Norway to Istanbul a long time ago and then met a very nice couple in Sophia, Bulgaria. I stayed on their couch some days (together with a French boy and German girl I had previously met on the road in Salzburg, Austria) and learned a lot about Bulgaria that I would never have done othervise!

Interests

Politics, litterature and philosophy. Other people and their culture, music, interests, religious/non-religious beliefs, political points of view.
I love to sit discussing over a beer/glass of wine topics such as: politics, literature, the meaning of life, religion, philosophy... you name it!

• culture
• books
• literature
• environment
• wine
• beer
• politics
• socializing
• music
• hiking
• atheism
• swimming
• freelancing
• history
• journalism
• political science
• religion
• science
• hitchhiking
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I like romantic movies - not those full of violence ;-) and I like movies with a meaning, either politically or philosophically. I love all kinds of music exept C&W, hard rock, punk. I prefer blues and tradjazz and Beethoven and Tschaikowsky are my favorite classics.
I read a lot of books. I read both contemporary authors and classics (I have about 3000 books in my living room).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have been to about 60 different countries in Europe, Africa, America, Asia - but the most amazing thing I've done (and do) is sitting high up in the mountains in my home country experiencing total scilence and 100 percent clean, fresh air - sometimes in a winterstorm and sometimes in a warm summer breeze. I'd very much like to show people from other countries that! I remember staying in Singapore for 3 weeks once and I got an "aha-experience": Many people in Singapore (and other big cities) don't know what total scilence is... In the Norwegian mountains you'll experience that - and it's amazing...

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to meet people to learn more about their culture and their political, religious and philosophical views. I very much like to meet people here in my flat and tell them/you about us - the "far-out" Norwegians; why we did not join the European Union (we had two referendums!), why we are willing to pay more for gas than most people even though we are "swimming" in oil and gas, why we are so focused on environment and global warming, why we are so focused (I hope) on the fact that all Norwegians have won the lottery as Norway is so rich, has such a low crime-rate, has a good and equal healthcare for everybody and social security system, still has clean air, lots of space and most people here are openminded to the rest of the world... And I'd honestly like to know YOU - who YOU are, what occupies YOUR mind and how people in YOUR country look upon all and everything...:)

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

Norway

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