CURRENT MISSION
Used to be to write a book about my world trip. But that's a longer proces! ;-) So I think it's more enjoying life.

ABOUT ME
A blue eyed, darkblond haired, tall (1m90) man. Down to earth, happy, graceful, dry sense of humor, open minded, open atitude, accepting people for who they are, curious about another person.

I like people, music, movies, sports, some cooking and talking. When I go for sightseeing or a holidays, most of the time I want to know a little bit from the history of where I'm about to go.

PHILOSOPHY

If you smile at me, I will understand, because that is something everybody everywhere does in the same language.

Respect each other. Respect each other opion.

Don't think in stereotypes.

To communicate is not only to talk, but also be able to listen to an other.

Keep true to yourself.

Don't put energy in things you can't change, because in the end it will only exhaust or dissapoint you. Focus on what you can change.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

The reason for participate in the CS Project is to share some space and time for people, who wants to visit the Nothern part of the Netherlands. To be open to people, to meet people from different cultures, just to watch, to learn and to share.

I do host. It has surprised me how many Couch Surfers find their way to my profile/couch.I have organised events like monthly meet-ups, cooking clubs, meet-ups, city walks. I Used to be one of the ones of CS New Member Welcome Team who sends a personalised welcome message to new members. CS Ambassador?

And my name is Koos, not 'hey there'. So maybe it's a good idea to start the request with my name.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
During the years I've hosted CS Guests, organised events and have been a guest from time to time. Until now all hosting experiences have been great!
In 2018 and 2019 ïve hosted a few. The number of hosts in Groningen is big if you look at the size of the city.

In 2017, 2016 and 2015 I've hosted some times: individuals, couples en groups of four people. In 2014 I have hosted Weining for the second time, Alicia and her good Friend from the USA, the Hong Kong group of Leni/Suet/WeiMan/Winki and Danish mother Rikke with her CS daughter Sofie. In July I was hosted in Poznan by Maciek and by Anna.

2013 started with my first Roemenian guest, Ionut. Irina came. Next I helped out Joanna and her brother Kriszu. Then I did my own Dutch couch surfing since a long time in the Netherlands at Fraukje her place in Haarlem. This was followed in May by staying at Gosia her place in Warsaw and Parick in Gdansk. Hosted Rudolf and his girlfriend. Quickly afterwards Anahita stayed for two weeks.

During my 2011-2012 world trip I have had the pleasure to be a CS-guest in London, Penang Island, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Sydney. In New Zealand I have been hosted in Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington. In Buenos Aires I have had two great hosts, followed by hosts in Cordoba and La Rioja. Paraguay presented me with Lyna in San Ignacio and Jazmin with her daughter Costanza in Encarnacion. Bolivia gave me Dilana in Santa Cruz, and the sisters Teresa and Magui in La Paz. Stayed with Garcia in Trujillo, Peru and with Marcello in Cotacachi, Ecuador.

In 2011: Hosted the dutch band Ravolva for a few days. Then I hosted some first-time-from-that-country: first time African CS'er from Rwanda, first Belgium guest, my first guest from Estonia, my first guest from Sweden. Summertime was Stefanie en Markus from Germany, Fiona form New Zeeland.

Before 2011, I have had the pleasure to be a host for about 27 couchsurfers, coming from Norway, Italy, White-Russia, Latvia, Germany, Usa, Peru, Brasil, Taiwan, Usa again, twice from France, Netherlands. Every time it turned out to be a great experience.Surfed in Utrecht, Istanbul,Budapest, Radzymin (nearby Warsaw) and Zrebice (nearby Czestochowa, Poland), Sevilla.

Interests

History, because of history we can learn how to handle today. And history shows that some persons didn't learn from history.
Italian food, especially cooking the food.
Listening to various kinds of music, watching movies.
Swimming, running.
People, especially couchsurfing people.

• books
• dining
• italian food
• cooking
• running
• clubbing
• movies
• socializing
• music
• hiking
• surfing
• sports
• track and field
• swimming
• history
• sightseeing

Music, Movies, and Books

Music? Ah.

Britrock from Stereophonics, Oasis, Supergrass, Kula Shaker, Paul Weller and Coldplay. The special pop/rock music made by Yo La Tengo. The 70's rock of ELO.

Rootsrock/alt.country by Ryan Adams, Drive by Truckers, Chatham County Line, Wilco, Whiskeytown, Steve Gunn. The rockblues from Rory Gallagher, Walter Trout en Joe Bonamassa. The British bluesboom from the sixties by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, Ten Years After, John Mayall. Guy Forsyth his singersongwriterblues. The rock from Creendence Clearwater Revival, Roling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, The Who, Triggerfinger, Rival Sons.

Singer-songwriterstyl like Tallest Man on Earth, Darlingside, Josh Ritter, Sean Rowe, Fleet Foxes, CSNY. A touch of the soul music from the sixties like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye.

War on Drugs with their Dylanesque psychopop. The Bright Light Social Hour with their spacerock.

Movies: 21 Grams, Heat, Once Upon a time in the West, Fistful of Dynamite, Shawshank Redemption, Babel, Slumdog Millionaire, American Gangster, Sin City, Milk, The Pianist, Million Dollar Baby, Pixar-movies, Christopher Nolan his Batmantrilogy, Public Enemies, Big Fish, Inception, Into the Wild, Doubt, 9, True Grit, Bloody Sunday, The King's Speech, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Interstellar, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, First Man. The classics Citizen Kane and 12 Angry Men.

Books: Lord of the Rings, Epic Fantasy (Feist, Goodkind, Tadd Williams, Patrick Rothfuss), Norman Davies about history like WW II and Warsaw Uprising, Zamoyski about Napoleon, Poland; history, biographies. Everything is illuminated.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I was 12 years old, a six week holiday in Poland. Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz & Birkenau, Zamosc. A 4 weeks Polish languaguecourse in Warsaw. Lancut palace with its splendid museum in Poland. Malbork Castle, nearby Gdansk.

Holidays in Italy, especially Rome, Florence and Umbria.

Haga Sofia and Topkapi palace Istanbul, Casa Pilatos and Reales Alcazares in Sevilla.

Worldtrip has been amazing: Erawan Waterval and Phang Nga bay in Thailand. Cameron Highlands in Malaysia, Botanic Gardens in Singapore. In New Zeeland: Tongariro Crossing, Milford Track, Inland Pack Track hike, Wild water rafting.

Cordoba's Museo de la Memoria, Parque Provincial Ischigualasto (Valle de la Luna), Quilmes ruines, Quebrade de Cafayate, Salta-Cachi-Salta daytrip and Northwest Salta daytrip, Iguazu Falls in Argentina. Circuit del Oro & Jesuit Misiones in Paraguay. Silvermines tour in Potosi, The World's Most Dangerous Road bicycle descent. Machu Picchu. Ciudad Perdida in Columbia.

Teach, Learn, Share

Hospitality: use it, don't abuse it.
To understand today we need to know the past.
To must is a force, the rest is a choice.
Show respect, don't ask for it.
Indifference is the enemy`s friend.

Couchsurfing: primary it's about interaction between people, secondary about staying at somebodies place. Not the other way around.

Helping foreigners in the city of Groningen with practicing speaking Dutch

What I Can Share with Hosts

My experiences, good mood, information about the city.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands

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