CURRENT MISSION

To stay as healthy as I can and have fun doing it.

ABOUT ME

I was born in Newfoundland before the province became a part of Canada. My family left there when I was 7 years old. We moved around a lot when I was a kid. I was educated at the School of Hard Knocks. I am a retired postal worker - minus the AK47!

I was bitten by the travel bug so I want to travel as much as I can while I am able. I like people and meeting new friends is the best for me - better than seeing the sights. I like to eat (too much) good food. I am technologically impaired, socially retarded and culturally deprived.

PHILOSOPHY

Have integrity and learn from my mistakes. Be as honest as I can with myself and others. I try to remember that pretending hurts. It is passive-aggressive and will always come back and bite me on the behind.

"Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God." ~ Robert Kennedy quoting, Aeschylus.

George Orwell: "During the times of universal deceipt, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

Mark Twain: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry & narrow mindedness. Broad, wholesome, charitable views cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth."

Bob Marley: Truth is, everyone is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.

Oscar Wilde: The sentimentalist is a person who wishes to experience the luxury of an emotion without going through any of the pain.

Leo F. Buscaglia: Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.
Leo F. Buscaglia: The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.
Leo F. Buscaglia: We seem to gain wisdom more readily through our failures than through our successes. We always think of failure as the antithesis of success, but it isn't. Success often lies just the other side of failure.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Surfing, hosting, keeping in touch with other CouchSurfers and learning how to participate in a respectful way.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I had my first experience with CS in 2009. I was hosted by an excellent person in Orlando. I could not have asked for anything better. Since then, I have hosted others and been a guest as well. Sharing feels good.

Learning how to be a good guest and/or host takes practice. Learning how to share a small space takes compromise. CouchSurfing for me is a learning experience.

Interests

Physical exercise - yoga, walking, a little ice skating in the winter.

Learning - taking courses

Volunteering: Tutoring English

• dining
• exercise
• yoga
• walking
• traveling
• biology
• teaching
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I like good movies - what I consider good anyway. I like adventure, science fiction, thriller, suspense, and mystery stories. There are too many to mention them all.

I'm kind of addicted to watching T.V. Canadian winters are cold and I do not like to go outside in the dark, wet, cold weather. Right now I like The Hand Maid Tale and reruns of Game of Thrones. I I like true stories and documentaries. I also enjoy news programs such as MSN and BBC. Last but not least, I like Dancing With the Stars.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

First, I think it is amazing that I have lived this long.

Second, I recovered some funds which were stolen from me by some money changers in Myanmar last year - 2008. It was a frightening experience and really got my heart pounding but I came out ahead.

I have traveled around the world. It took me five years to go all the way around.

Teach, Learn, Share

Sometimes I tutor English both in Vancouver and also when I travel.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A sense of humour, a few stories and a good ear for listening.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, India, Mexico

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