CURRENT MISSION

Linking the dots

ABOUT ME

Some years ago a Portuguese fortune-teller predicted that I would be going to marry a rich woman, have 2 daughters, and then die at 46 y/o. Now that I have turned 51 I think like being in a second life...But I something think, what about if the hand-reader was wrong by a few years? This thought makes me enjoy every moment of life to its fullest. I am massively short of one of my life long-term goals, that is, learning to play the Goldberg Variations by Bach. I am stuck at variation 5, and there are 25 more to go. I will really need to give it a good try if I want to finish on time.
Italians say about horoscopes "It's not true but I believe in them",whereas I say "I don't believe in them,but they might be true". So I act consequently.

I have also turned very worried abot the unfolding climate crisis and I have become socially active to demand political change and raise awarness. This made me even more willing to engage in long lower-carbon journeys around the world.

I love my job as a researcher,I am interesting in studying solidarity,altruism,cooperation and trust.In other words,the good side of human beings.Considering there isn't much altruism among animals directed towards genetically unrelated individuals, I do believe the capacity of helping others is what makes us truly humans. However, in most humans altruism is not unconditional, so studying the conditions and the situations that can generate altruism is a fascinating and still open field. Hope I haven't bored you too much...

PHILOSOPHY

W.A. Mozart, perhaps the most joyful of all music composers, used to say that the one thing that gives a meaning to life is death. It sounds a bit sad and paradoxical, but in reality it is a way to enjoy life in its fuller sense. When I do things I try to think of all the people who don't have the freedom of movement and liberty that we enjoy in Europe. Travelling is an experience not just for the visitor, but also for the people who receive the visit.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I was led to CS by meeting other proud couchsurfers while travelling through Vietnam and the Balkans. I decided to give it a try and loved it. I am happy to host and surf, and participate in CS events.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I love the chance of meeting people from all ways of life and different parts of the world, and share a little bit of their journey. It's great to see so many people around who are happy to give to strangers as if they were their brothers/sisters. I try to do the same, for what I can.

Interests

Ecologism, Campaigning, Arts, Music, Running

• arts
• culture
• environment
• politics
• music
• history
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

My top 3 includes Dreams by Akira Kurosawa, After the Rain by Minko Manchewsji, and Underground by Emir Kusturica.
The Goldberg Variations would be the one piece I'd take on a desert island with me. If I could have another it would be the Ravel's Piano Concert. If I could have a third it'd be Debussy's Claire de Lune.
The poems by Eugenio Montale have left an ever-lasting mark in my imagination.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

- Being locked out of my hostel in Irkutsk (flat owner had gone and didn't leave me keys), having to catch transiberian train in one hour, the train station being the other side of the city. I still don't know how, but I made it.

- Playing the solo part of J.S. Bach harpsichord concerto in D minor.

- Seeing a video of American soldiers on the D-day landing. They were dying in their thousands, and still their companions would advance in the field, knowing they may be dead in a few seconds. So horrible, so irrational, so much against our nature (or perhaps not?)

- Travelling from Hong Kong to Kiel without taking a plane. (not too difficult after all. The most amazing bit was to get the Turkmeni visa).

Teach, Learn, Share

I am an economist / social psychologist. Some people enjoy listening to what I know about this fascinating world which is our mind, others find it terribly boring.

Something I'd love to know more about is animal life. So I am all ears to any biologist.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My house, my knowledge, my desire to listen.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

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