Friendly, sociable and curious to meet new people in new places. I travel a lot due to my profession and prefer to learn about a new place via the locals, rather than trusting tourist guides etc. I was born to an American mother and a Turkish father, thus was raised in a bi-lingual and bi-cultural environment. I am a translator, interpreter and language instructor, an MC, dubbing & voiceover artist, book salesman, fixer, and have had experiences in bartending, trade, taxi driving among others. I write poetry, prose, and dj on occasion.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To see new places through the eyes of locals, meet potential friends, and basically to find like-minded individuals to enjoy this beautiful world and all that it has to offer together whenever the possibility arises. I am an experience-junkie and am very easy going and open minded, provided my companions are kind-hearted and well-intentioned.

Interests

I have a variety of interests; literature (both reading and writing-particularly poetry), art, music, philosophy, pharmacology & entheogen, film, psychoanalysis, linguistics, anthropology, history, geography, philosophy and theology, history of religions, drama, martial arts, gaming, mixology and juggling to name a few...

• arts
• writing
• literature
• poetry
• dancing
• environment
• cooking
• cocktails
• partying
• reading
• traveling
• juggling
• music
• martial arts
• anthropology
• geography
• history
• religion
• travel
• gaming
• games
• counselling
• addiction
• i ching

Music, Movies, and Books

This is a hard one as I have taught books and films and have been an avid listener of music forever. My favourite authors (fiction) include (among many many others) J.L.Borges, Kafka, Burroughs, Houllebecq, Nabokov, Murakami, Bolano, Pamuk, Larkin, Rushdie (first 6-7 novels only), the Brontes, T. Hardy, W. Blake, D. Buzatti, and the list can go on and on and on... I am a voracious reader and am always on the lookout for new books, fiction and non-fiction alike..
I am also a great fan of graphic novels; favourite authors include Garth Ennis, Alan Moore, Jason Aaron, Warren Ellis, Scott Snyder, Grant Morrison, R. Crumb and many more whose names evade me now.

Favourite movies? Again a tough one, but here goes: Nosferatu, The Big Lebowski, Living In Oblivion, Big Stan, Babette's Feast, Europa and many many more.

Music: I have a rather eclectic taste ranging from Roots to Dancehall Reggae, Indie Rock to Heavy Metal, Techno to Drill 'n Bass, Classical to Jazz, Turkish Classical Music to World Music (particularly Afro-pop, South American and Balkan sounds), Sufi Music to Drone, Ambient to Pop... However, if I were to pick one album over everything composed up to now, it would be J. S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, especially Glenn Gould's version...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Taking part in organising a three-day rave in 2001 at one of the Princes' Islands near Istanbul, namely the ADA party, with Ricardo Villalobos, Zip and Sammy Dee (DE), but have many more to tell if requested :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach English, Literature, Poetry, Philosophy, Film, Critical Theory, Martial Arts (Yang & Wudang style Tai Chi -empty-hand, sword, fan- Wing Chun), Translation and Interpreting, Bartending skills, juggling,
I'd love to learn anything that interesting individuals have to offer regarding their own experiences. Whatever you are interested in, I may also be, provided you are passionate about it...
I am a good listener and am willing to share anything that you would be interested in...

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good company, a wide range of interests that supplies me with long hours of chattering, whether it be daily shooting-the-breeze topics to the ontological dimensions of religion, or exchanging views on how to live a happy, fulfilling, peaceful, harmonious life on this lovely planet which we each inhabit for -unfortunately- a short time. Life has been both very gracious and challenging to me, so I value the time we spend here on earth and being a good host/visitor and an all-around gentle human being is my priority, which I hope are goals similar to other couchsurfing folk.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Kenya, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Spain, Turkey, United States