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Overview

  • 2 references 1 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English, French, German; learning Italian, Spanish
  • 68, Male
  • Member since 2010
  • Writing, (adult) education with focus on disability issues.
  • I got a so called "good education" with university degree...
  • From Basel, Switzerland
  • Profile 85% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

Africa is our neighbour and should be our friend, but we Europeans have treated her badly annd still do so. This concerns me greatly. Connecting with each other is important. Therefore I want to spent some time in Africa. I will start in Morocco.

ABOUT ME

I'm single, borne in 1955 in a swiss middle class family. I am curious and interested in many things. The older I get the less I believe in settling down. I am blind since the age of twelve. My blindness doesn't keep me from exploring the world and travelling (alone or with friends), but it shapes to some extent the way I travel and the kind of things I enjoy most: Beautiful cities, great architecture fantastic sceneries or gorgeous views usually don't do it to me. I enjoy such things through the eyes and hearts of others, but for me it's the joy of meeting other people, getting a feel of their culture and of their every day life, their worries and dreams. It's also about what my hands discover: The roundish and smooth surface of a mud house; the shape of a plant I've never seen; the feel of an animal we don't have in Switzerland, the musical cries of market venders in Delhi and their competing stacatos: 40, 40, 40, 40 ! 60 60 60 60 ! It's thoughts and ideas and it's what my hands tuch and last but not least it's the romantic feelings and exciting sensations of being squeezed in a packed minibus or train, riding on a motor bike or camel or horse, travelling in or on a truck in unknown territory ... enjoyment of adventure you might say.

PHILOSOPHY

It's probably fair to say, that I am a typical "humanist", no specific religion, but a certain idea about how we should treat each other and our earth.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Until now I do not participate in any active way with couchsurfing, but I love the idea. I have been a Host and Travellor with "Servas", a simular organization, before.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I travelled with Servas in the States and once I had made one friend in Pakistan, I was past on as guest where ever I went. Great hospitality, a lot of fun and kindness! In India I became part of a family in rural Bihar and staid with them for two weeks. A lot of learning and friendships which last until today. More stories? O yes, but what a long form! I guess, I better move on!

Interests

Music (active and passive). Books. Political and social movements, which promote and explore alternatives to the western concepts of development and the western life style in general. Getting involved with blind and otherwise handicapped people in other countries and learn more about their lives. Being outdoor. Getting more into nature. Doing romantic and adventurous things which I never do in my regular life: long boat trips (sailboat, canoo), horseback or camel riding, crossing deserts on a motor bike or on the back of a truck .. etc..

  • animals
  • culture
  • writing
  • books
  • architecture
  • dining
  • cheese
  • beer
  • boating
  • reading
  • traveling
  • music
  • outdoor activities
  • cycling
  • equestrian
  • history
  • religion

Music, Movies, and Books

I am an almost total stranger to movies. I love classical western music, jazz, ethnic and folk music from around the globe etc. In terms of books I love novels which transport me into a different culture or a different historical and social sphere than the one I live in.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In 2004/2005 I travelled by boat, bus and train from Switzerland through Turkey, Iran and Pakistan into India. When I started to talk about my plans, most of my friends overhere were concerned: Isn't this dangerous? Are you not afraid, that something will happen to you? What about violence? What about health problems? How do you make sure, your money will not get stolen etc. etc. It was as if I was going into a war. The focus of all preparations was on dangers and problems.
The mood didn't keep me from going, but I was impressed. - The first night I was on the fairy from Italy to Turkey. When I was unroling my sleeping bag in a quiet corner and thinking about the best ways to make sure, nothing would be stolen from my back pack during the night, a big and loud guy came by and invited me to join him and a couple of his friends for supper. When I said, I was ready to sleep, he gave me a bottle of beer and a big hunk of cheese, whishing me good night. The encounter was indicative for the whole trip: Everywhere I went I found the people I met incredibly friendly and helpful. They could have taken advantage of this blind western guy a zilian times, but they never did. Instead they came and helped even when we couldn't talk a word. They looked, they tried to understand what I needed and they helped!!! - In a way this was the deepest and most important experience of my six months in Asia and when I got a chance to talk about this trip later on, this was the most important thing I tried to bring across to the nice and kind, but often so scared people overhere.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to travel, but I also love to get involved in some practical work or project. This could be anything from a teaching job at a university (european history; educational philosophy; class room management etc.) to teaching blind children (english, mobility, braille reading and writing etc.) or working with their families or a school for the blind, which wants to expand their programs. Arrangements could be formal or informal (in exchange to a place to sleep and food maybe). My real pay is the chance to learn and helping to do something is the best way to learn.

Countries I’ve Visited

Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Mauritania, Poland, Romania, Tanzania, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Switzerland, United States

Old School Badges

  • 2 Vouches

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