CURRENT MISSION

Radical Acceptance.

ABOUT ME

I teach in the Department of Drama at Rhodes University, Grahamstown; a small university town in South Africa. I teach a bunch of different performance related academic subjects from first year to PhD. My research interests include contemporary South African drama and also (more generally) Performance Studies. I also teach a few different practical courses in Playwriting in the Drama Department and also periodically supervise a couple of students undertaking the general MA course in Creative Writing at Rhodes.

In terms of my own creative writing, I've published work in a wide range of genres - plays, poems, short stories, a novella/memoir, criticism and (even) a manifesto (on amateurism), which was translated into Turkish.

We also have a Kagyu Buddhist centre at our house where we host a small local Buddhist community and run Mindfulness courses.

PHILOSOPHY

Well, I'm following the Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism) path, so that covers a whole bunch of philosophic ground right there. My wife (Louise) follows "Sahaj Marg", which she claims isn't a religion, but I reckon it's pretty close.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Periodic hosting and surfing.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far I've been hosted in the Netherlands and Wales - both brilliant trips. Then, we've had 4 different visitors staying over here for short stays and it's worked out nicely so far.

Interests

people, places, cultures / creativity, spirituality, arts.

• arts
• writing
• poetry
• performing arts
• festivals
• running
• meditation
• music
• guitar
• surfing
• buddhist
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

Sure, lots and lots and lots of them.

Most recently I've enjoyed -

Movies: Birdman, Irreversible, Under the Skin, Enemy, Jodorofsky's Dune.
Music: Jacaszek, Bumcello, Niils Frahm
Books: The Goldfinch (Donna Tart); A Kim Jung Production (I forget the author, it's a proof coming out in a few months); A Walk in the Woods (Bill Bryson), Italo Calvino's "Difficult Loves", The Importance of Being Iceland (Eileen Myles), and also, coincidentally Iceland (Jim Krusoe)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Meeting the Karmapa in Bodhgaya. Completing a six month closed Ngondro retreat. Participating in theatre festivals in Monaco, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina. Oh wait, that's more than one.

Teach, Learn, Share

Well, I teach for a living, but I always wonder how much of it is me teaching and how much is them just figuring stuff out on their own, you know? I can show you how to peel an onion, maybe? That was something I had to learn. Or we could make some music together, or speak German or Afrikaans if the mood takes us, or go to the theatre, or do a spot of meditation?

What I Can Share with Hosts

If we arrange in advance, I could bring along some sheet music and play some nylon stringed guitar for you, though you'd probably need to supply the instrument. I could also read you a Herman Charles Bosman story or two. Also, one of the things I do is to teach an 8 week Mindfulness course; so if you're interested in that I could definitaly show you some of those exercises.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Namibia, Netherlands, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, South Africa, United States

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