🏆 Contest: Who Has the Best Profile?

English Forum Activities 🏆 Contests
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And here we go with a new little contest! After the contest for the best listing, we’re now going to reward the best HomeExchange profile.

Indeed, as you know, your profile says a lot about you; it’s a bit like your business card, which members will check before proposing an exchange or accepting your proposal, to learn a bit more about you; who you are, what you like, what kind of HomeExchanger you are, etc., before finalizing an exchange. So it’s essential to take care of it and make sure it truly reflects who you are.

This contest is open to everyone:

  • If you’re already a HomeExchange member, you can use your existing profile,
  • If you’re not yet a HomeExchange member, you can create an imaginary one

How to participate

:right_arrow: If you’re already a HomeExchange member:

  1. Go to your profile on homeexchange.com: My Account - My Profile

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  1. Copy the content of your description (yes, the entire description of your profile). (Of course, if you want to take the opportunity to improve or update it, this is your chance!)

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  1. Paste the text of your profile as a reply to this post: click “Reply” under this post, and paste your text
  2. Vote for your favorite presentation by giving it a “Like”

Important: Do not share the link to your listing, your home ID, or any photos. We want the votes to be as objective as possible.

:right_arrow: If you’re not yet a HomeExchange member (or if you’re bursting with creativity and prefer to invent a profile to participate):

  1. Click “Reply” under this post and share the content of your imaginary profile
  2. In the title, write “Imaginary Profile”
  3. Vote for your favorite presentation by giving it a “Like”

Winner Selection

The reply that receives the most reactions (thumbs up, hearts, etc.) will be the winner (psst, don’t hesitate to share this contest with your friends!)

Contest ends: August 14, 2025, at noon, Paris time.

Prize: a (beautiful) HomeExchange-branded mug :orange_heart:

:light_bulb: Get inspired by the Fernandez family’s profile!

Any profile that truly reflects you and contains all the necessary information can be considered a great profile.

To guide you, we have created a fictional listing with its fictional profile that includes all the elements of a quality profile. I encourage you to check it out if you’re lacking inspiration or if you’re new to the community and looking for ideas to write your profile:

Tip: Discover how to improve your profile (and your listing) by reading the advice from our ambassadors Florent and Joanna!

Finally, if you’re looking for even more tips to boost your chances of successful exchanges, read the advice from our ambassadors:

Legal conditions of the contest:

There will be only one winner per forum. The author of the reply with the most “likes” (all reactions combined) will be identified on August 14, 2025, at noon Paris time, and will win a HomeExchange-branded mug. The winner will be notified via the forum.

A different winner will be chosen on each of our forums; in other words, the same participant cannot be declared winner simultaneously on multiple forums.

Members wishing to participate must do so exclusively on the forum corresponding to the language/location of their HomeExchange account. For example, a French member wishing to enter the contest must participate on the French forum. This information will be verified, and participation on other forums will not be counted. This ensures a fair chance for all members based on their location and language.

If, despite this, a member decides to participate on multiple forums and gains the most “likes” on several forums, only their participation on the forum matching their HomeExchange account’s language/location will be considered. In total, four winners (one per forum) will be selected at the end of the contest.

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Our family has lived in the area for 20+ years. Ryan is a recovering Architect and Michelle is a MRI Technician. Our daughter, while away at college now, was born in Vail and has been raised as a Colorado Mountain girl. When not planning our next home exchange we enjoy skiing, hiking, camping, biking and all the outdoor activities we can find. We also LOVE good company, food and craft beer.

You can see a video of us having fun here: https://youtu.be/wWFRrPg0_XY

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Hi I’m Susan – My husband and I are self-employed, in the financial industry --so we can work from anywhere with a good wi-fi. I like to keep things clean and will leave your home in pristine condition. Its mostly just the two of us, but sometimes we invite another couple (if space allows). We are quiet and respectful, non smokers. Our home is big so we offer 2 configurations. We have 5 bedrooms but 90% of our exchanges only need 1-2 so we offer reduced points for less bedrooms and thus preparation. If you need more space we can add the primary suite and points are 292 (recommended by home exchange), We love guest points so if you see guest points its an ACTUAL availability - send us a request.

We both love the outdoors, the beach, hiking, movies, musical theater, finding waterfalls, exploring cities, and bring our pickleball paddles everywhere – just in case. Our home is mostly has all wood flooring. We have no pets, at this time. David is a hobbyist photographer. Susan can’t eat wheat, so we often shop and cook, but nothing elaborate. We like to meet in person or via skype, everyone who will stay in our home. Californians & other states in a 6 hour drive or 1-2 hour flight --if you want to do a long weekend, we are interested! We like to getaway for 4 days or so once a month and explore our own state and the Western US.

To date we have visited 44 international cities/countries and have at least 40 left including: Belize, Brazil, Argentina, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium, Malta, & Czech, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Australia, & New Zealand. We’ll get there. I usually only put a few places on our “preferred destination list” but feel free to propose an exchange if you have a home in one of these places.

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I love this Ryan! ‘recovering Architect’ :grin: was it so bad??

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What a great and very thorough profile Susan. Are you planning to visit all the countries in the world? Or it sounds like you have a list?

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Ha, yes it was bad enough that I am recovering 5+ years after escaping that life. Ask me some time about it and I’d be glad to share why, but with a happy ending involving Home Exchange. :slightly_smiling_face:

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HOSTING
LAST MINUTE GUESTS WELCOME!
As a host, I prefer to host last minute or with short notice.

CURRENT MISSION
Cycle from Finland to Argentina, play theater, and more of all: to have fun!

Another mission was to organize the WNBR, and I did for more than a decade.

BLOG
www.cyclorbit.blog

ABOUT ME
I lived in Belgium for a long time, now I mostly live in Finland (in the summer). I was made in Italy, I grew up around Europe, and I will die as a World citizen.
At the moment I am cycling from Finland to Argentina.
When I travel, I am pretty essentialist and minimalist; the less I own, the more I am free & enjoy what really matters.

SMOKE, DRUGS, & DRINKS
I don’t smoke; I may smoke just if my clothes are on fire: I am allergic to any smell of smoke.

A drug I use, maybe once every three months, is coffee, but I am trying to quit.

I drink a lot: my favorite drink is water from a spring.
I usually don’t drink much alcohol; I may drink a glass of good wine with some food.
However, I love to be social and go dancing (rock n’ roll).

CYCLING
Bicycles are, for me, a religion. I don’t use cars since decades.
I like to use bicycles for any purpose, also to transport dishwashers!

I also work with bicycles, arranging bike events.
I volunteer, too, organizing Cyclonudista (The World Naked Bike Ride).

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES - HOMELESSNESS
Since I am a traveler, as many of you, I have felt what it means not to have a roof on your head.
I think that nobody should be left sleeping in the streets.
That’s why I try to do my small part about this issue.

ENVIRONMENT
I have been in many environmentalist groups, mostly doing FoodSharing and People’s Kitchen.

I like Nature, I like “Balance,” respect for Animals.
I share vegan ideology, but I make exceptions sometimes.

I can be the most uncomplicated person on the globe. But, just in certain situations, I can become highly complex; I just try to adapt myself to the circumstances I am in.

THEATER
My main passion is Theater; I love to play and watch Theater shows. I am also making experimental philosophic short movies.

TANTRA
I have practiced tantra for a few years. Along with cycling, it became my main religion.

PHILOSOPHY
I don’t always listen to advice because to make mistakes, I am also excellent by myself.

If you are depressed, you are living in the past.
If you are anxious, you are living in the future.
If you are at peace, you are living in the present.
€
If you don’t know how to smile, you are not a serious person.

MY PAST IN COUCHSURFING
Since CS is a “FOR profit” organization, I am less keen to help the “company.”
In the past, for CS, I have:
made all kinds of meetings;
accepted the most CS requests,
helped the CS community in many ways: donating money, helping other members, trying to bring friendly people in the community);
suggested everyone to be verified!;
greeted loads of new/traveling nearby members;
promoted CS censorship-free;
organized regular meetings about Theater;
hosted regular Pyjama Parties Meetings;
started weekly sport meetings;

HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE
The first time I couch surfed was in Bielefeld (Germany). Then in Berlin and again in Cologne.
Since then, I have had hundreds of exchanges.
I had super nice, quite lovely, friendly, almost nice, almost not nice, and not nice at all CS experiences.

OTHER INTERESTS
Permaculture,
Veganism,
Yoga,
Ecology,
Martial Arts (BJJ, jiu-jitsu, MMA, Krav Maga),
Music (rock, jazz, blues, ska, classic),
Internet,
Nightlife,
Social life.

MUSIC, MOVIES & BOOKS
MOVIES:
Adventure, Comic.
(but mostly instead of TV I prefer Theater).
MUSIC:
Blues; Rock, Classic Rock; Garage; Soul; Rhythm & Blues;Ska, Ska-punk; Ska-jazz, Old Rock 'n roll/pop '50, '60, '70, '80; Jazz; Classic.
About music I am a bit (MUCH) selective, I don’t really appreciate much electro, techno, house, most of modern POP (like Eros Ramazzotti) and related.
The places I like are disco-pubs where people can easily dance and talk with no too loud music.
Singers: Fabrizio De André, Lucio Battisti, Battiato, Tony Tammaro, Punk Monital, Queen,
Books: Adventure, historical, documentaries.
This is one of the gorup I love:

BOOKS
Philosophic,
Historical,
Cultural,
Arts.

The two books that changed my life, and philosophy, are:
No death, no fear; by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Eloge de La Fuite; by Henri Laborit.

Lately, I mostly listen to audiobooks while I am bike touring.

AMAZING THINGS I’VE DONE
I was born;
I have been sailing on ships;
I have had my soul saved on the sea more than once;
Theater;
I have been in life-changing hippie meetings;
Cycling the world;

and of course a lot of hospitality exchange experiences!

TEACH, LEARN, SHARE
I like to:

Teach & share: Italian, IT, Theater.

Learn: Anthropology, Psychology , Acting.

WHAT I CAN SHARE WITH HOSTS
Vegan Macrobiotic Risotto;
Storytelling;
A bike ride;
Help around at home;
Good company;
Some groceries;