Sorry guys, I have too much going on right now and don't have time to be hosting anyone.
I have a sofa bed that sleeps 2 and an air mattress for one more. Other than that, I have floorspace for anyone else who can bring along some kind of mat since my floor isn't carpeted or anything. I have blankets and pillows for 2 people.
I don't have any pets and don't smoke.
I live just south of the town center and am very close to the train-, tram- and buslines, which can get you into town in 15 minutes. Plus if you ride with me into town on weekends, I can take 4 people with me on my ticket for free.
During the week I have to go to bed at around 11, but I usually like to stay up on weekends. I can also show people around evenings and weekends.
I'm flexible about how long people stay (within reason, obviously) as long as we get along ok.
By the way, I reserve the right to say no to anyone who writes me a crappy request or just seems lame. But if you've gotten this far in my profile, you're probably all right.
Mark Stock 39, Several people Newton, Massachusetts United States Friends since September 1981 "Sister and sister-in-law" Friendship Type: Best Friend 4134
woolandyoke 25, Male Chicago, Illinois United States Friends since December 2008 "Met back in December when she was a nearby traveler." Friendship Type: Close Friend I vouched for Clarissa Howe 47
JULICHKA 25, Female Dresden, Saxony Germany Friends since November 2005 "we used to live together, she was my dear flatmate..." Friendship Type: Close Friend I vouched for Clarissa Howe
EL KIERANO 32, Male Heidelberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg Germany Friends since June 2007 "We work and drink together" Friendship Type: Close Friend
Jimbabwe Dymond 32, Male Heidelberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg Germany Friends since September 2006 "we work together" Friendship Type: Close Friend 5
Nastja Horvat 27, Female Ljubljana, Osrednjeslovenska Slovenia Friends since September 2007 "My first CS experience." Friendship Type: Good Friend 2
Chiann Tsui 30, Female Menlo Park, California United States Friends since September 2000 "Met in college--lots of mutual friends and classy times!" Friendship Type: Good Friend 7
Michael Quaas 27, Male Erfurt, Thuringia Germany Friends since November 2004 "Awesome person and very good friend." Friendship Type: Close Friend
HUSSYHD 32, Male Heidelberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg Germany Friends since November 2006 "We met through work buddies and we often hang out in Heidelberg" Friendship Type: Close Friend 3
Luke Padgett 28, Male Chattanooga, Tennessee United States Friends since October 2007 "steamy pancakes of the german shire" Friendship Type: CouchSurfing Friend I vouched for Clarissa Howe 2
Showing off my awesome new jacket in front of the creek by my parents' house. View all 51 photos
Personal Description
I'm an American now living in Heidelberg, Germany. I'm a bit at a loss for words that will clearly and concisely express my unending coolness, so I'm just gonna stop here.
How I Participate in CS
I gave a talk at TEDx Rhein-Neckar about Couchsurfing, but I can't seem to embed it onto my profile. Anyway, here's the link if you're interested:
Since joining CS 4 years ago, I've hosted about 50 people from about 15 countries, all of which have been *really* good. I've also surfed a bit in the US, Canada, Serbia, and France. I've also served as an ambassador and more recently have given a talk at TEDx Rhein-Neckar on Couchsurfing and been profiled on the German news channel ZDF in a story on Couchsurfing.
Interests
Languages, travel, indie rock, dancing, yoga, baking, running, food, hiking, and, of course, much much more.
I can get at least temporarily interested in just about anything, even the history of artificial grass. (That last bit is not a joke. The really funny part? Everyone involved in that conversation was sober.)
Philosophy
Enjoy your existence. At the same time, make it enjoyable for other people, too.
Music, Movies, Books
The Shins, Passion Pit, of Montreal, Jeff Buckley, a Tribe Called Quest, Feist, the Beach Boys, Vampire Weekend, the Dodos, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, White Teeth, Crime and Punishment, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Jane Austen's collected works
Types of People I enjoy
I bet I'll like you if you're interesting, funny, nice, and have good taste in music. I guarantee I'll like you if you're Bret McKenzie from Flight of the Conchords.
Call me crazy, but I'm not a big fan of asshats (I really wanted to say 'douchebag' there, but I'm trying to use that word less).
I am also allergic to German native speakers who insist on speaking English to me. It's probably because I have to deal with this annoyance at work all the time that I tend to judge people who do it to me in my private life quite unfairly and harshly. Consider yourself forewarned.
Teach, Learn, Share
Teach me about the multiverse, about your country, or (especially) your language. Teach me how to knit, or how to blow dry my hair correctly, or how to throw a football. There are so many things I want to know, just teach me something!
I'm more than happy to teach you about English or German, but it's more likely that I'll find my way to the subject of language on my own and you'll end up begging me to stop rambling about it :-)
One Amazing Thing I've Seen or Done
Half-marathon. I went from being a very sporadic runner to being a focused, strong, and veeeeeery slow runner.
This summary is not a replacement for reading references; it's a quick summary to help you get started. At a glance, you can see how many references a member has, and how many of them are positive, neutral, and negative.
In the second line, you'll see how many references came from people who hosted this member, surfed with them, and traveled with them. These numbers won't always add up to the total: some references are not categorized, and some may be categorized as more than one thing.
When viewing this summary, don't jump to conclusions! Things that are negative for one person may be positive for another, and vice versa. It's important to read references carefully and evaluate what that information means to you.
Was great to chill with Clarissa in Sarajevo and get to know how to take care of sun burns : )
She is a very interesting person, impossible to get bored around her and all this besides her ted talk speech . . .
Hope to see you in Barcelona or in Germany!
From Oliver Dujmovic Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Aug 30, 2011
Positive
It was cool having U around here.
Hope this Sarajevo CS hospital did little good 4 u.
I hope to see you again in the future!
There should be an "extremely positive" option! On a rainy Sunday in Heidelberg, I had a wonderful time with Clarissa, just chilling, drinking and eating at her place. I improved my vegetable-cutting knowledge, we talked about almost everything (might have forgotten a topic or two), and basically had a great time together. Thanks for the hospitality, and hope to see you soon in Siena or Genoa!
It was very nice surfing with Clarissa in Heidelberg. She's a wonderful hostess and show us the city, take us to a small typical restaurant.
Thank you so much!!!
Staying at Clarissas place was great! We had a really nice evening of talking, laughing and drinking. She definitly has a lot of amusing stories which she told me with her unique american-ossi accent hehe :) And if you stay at her place you got to taste her Amaretto sour!! Hopfully meet again :)
Clarissa is a fantastic host, we spent a nice evening (actually almost night) together in the city, and I wish her great success and give me a notice when you are going to visit Riga :)
Roberts
I met Clarissa through the couchsurfing website. I ask her to talk about her couchsurfing experience at TEDxRheinNeckar. My only comment: WOW
Thanks again, you were great.
From Colin Brady San Francisco, United States Sep 24, 2010
Positive
This amazing, beautiful girl hosted me and my friend so kindly at the last possible minute after some other prospective host ditched us in Heidelberg. She took the best care of us and showed us all around. Thanks so much even though you're getting this over a year late!!!
Clarissa is girl always ready for action, warm, friendly, well organized in time and you can learn many interesting things from her about life in USA and Germany. It was great time I spend with her and her boyfriend Tom. You and Tom, must come here soon.