ABOUT ME

I tend to be a positive person. I don't really like people that complain.

I am a relax person. I try to stay far away from stress, anger and negative energy.

I was taught to work hard and be curious.

I love good food, good things in life.

I tend to be more quiet now... Depends on the people I am with. Let's say that I have been wild in my 20s and 30s and I'm slowing down these days.

I left home the first time at the age of 17 to go work for the Summer in Banff, west Canada.
At 18, I got involved in my first volunteer workcamp for 6 weeks in Northern Québec in an Inuit community (Kuujjuaq). The following Summer, another workcamp brought me to Belarus. I then took part in a program (Canada World Youth) in Indonesia for more that 3 months where I lived in a Dayak host family, deep in the forest of Central Kalimantan. An unforgettable experience.
In 1993, I entered University in Montreal for a degree in Political Science. For my last year of University I studied in Ankara (Turkey). And I really loved it.

As soon as I was out of University, I started a company (www.horizoncosmopolite.com) helping people to go in different countries mainly to do volunteer work all around the world and to learn Spanish (in central America). An amazing experience that gave me the opportunity to travel in many places and meet people making a difference in their country. I have met a lot of good and great people as participants from Canada going abroad, but also as our partners and host families in various countries. Needless to say, my network has been growing so much during these years.

I sold my company in 2008. I decided to invest my time differently. I travelled around for a while and move to Finland for a master's in Intercultural studies, Communication and Administration.

I lived and worked in Finland for 3 years. I started working in a College in Trois-Rivieres in Sept 2013 as an international affairs advisor. I became the manager of student services and of the international office of the College for a little while, but I quit in October 2015 to start a new business. But I am back now at the College after 4 years of struggle.

I have a brand new house in the middle of the forest. A super quiet place where I see deers, foxes and racoons almost every week. I do travel in the provice every week for work, but if I can host you I would. I am a bit far from everything.

PHILOSOPHY

Enjoy everyday, stay curious, be authentic with people if you want the same from them. Try everything at least once (except balut - in Philippines). Be positive. Be with people that are smiling.

Your friends are the family you choose.

Travelling taught me how family is important.

I have been welcomed in different places by families that emptied their fridge for me...

Don't loose time arguing about religion with religious people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I host, sometimes Surf and attend meetings when I travel. I can host you, but I live in the middle of the forest.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have CSurfed in Finland, in Sweden, in Singapore, in Jogjyakarta, in Egypt, in Russia, in Spain, in Estonia and met Surfers in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Hungary. I hosted 5 or 6 people in Kathmandu where I rented a flat in July 09 and I also hosted in Finland and Canada.

I have been hosted by a super true CSurfer in Vaasa (Finland) who helped me a lot to settle down. She left me her flat for 10 days without knowing me...Same happen also in St-Petersbourg.

I was impressed to see how many people contacted me to meet while in Iran and Turkey. So much friendship possible in these two places. Turks and Iranians, you are great!

Because of my past work and past travel experiences, my appartment as always been filled by people from all over the world or just coming back from a volunteer program of some kind.

Interests

People, cross-cultural understanding, good food, good wine, cooking (usually vegetarian, but if you invite me, I am flexible :)), design, international news/questions, the environment.

Cycling, ski and gym.

I cannot hide the fact that I enjoy the beach, and the seafood that comes with it...

Downhill skiing and snorkeling bring me to extasy.

Good discussions

Espresso

• design
• environment
• dining
• seafood
• cooking
• wine
• vegetarian
• yoga
• meditation
• raves
• boating
• news
• traveling
• volunteer work
• socializing
• investing
• cycling
• snorkeling
• skiing
• buddhist
• cultural studies
• political science
• religion
• science
• volunteering
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Mainly news.

Music: Femi Kuti, Fela Kuti, Anouar Brahem, Groundation, Eric Truffaz, Tom Waits, The Herbalizer, Mister Valaire, Alain Bashung.

TV series mainly. Not much movies and usually not American movies.

I do not need to be entertain all the time. I enjoy what is being offered to me. I am never bored.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The uderwater world is the most beautiful thing I have seen.

The 22nd of July 2009 Eclypse in Varanasi (India), on a boat on the Ganga was a life experience with a really special emotion and vibration. I will never forget that moment.

I have been to raves a few times and I believe everybody should experience it at least once in it's life...better than a shrink...for me anyway...

Ladakh in India was really really fabulous.

I did Vipassana in 2010 in Thailand and in Sweden in 2011.

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn about buddhism, meditation and yoga. I have explored all of that, but still, I need to learn a lot more.

If you want to volunteer abroad or learn Spanish, I can surely give you a few advice. I have sent 4000 people in more than 30 countries in my past work.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, Senegal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Finland, Indonesia, Turkey

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