CURRENT MISSION

Getting to know France and French people better

ABOUT ME

Imagine it’s getting dark, starry night over your head, you’re getting chilled. Now dig this - we’re all at this little speck of dust which is the planet under our feet, floating around a star, one of 150 billion stars in the galaxy, which is again one of some 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe… and since we supposedly perceive only 5% of the universe, you get the idea. No place like Earth. And we’re those tiny magical blobs of intelligence, observers made of stardust, floating through spacetime and singing. This is how I perceive.

The ability to listen and observe is rare these days, but the richest experiences come exactly through this.

On one hand, I’m a man of the West. A scientist in the making. Logically thinking, pragmatic rationalist. And a bit of an old-fashioned gentleman at that. On the other hand, I have a thing for East, its culture, philosophies.

I believe that in terms of travelling, seeing unique places is just an added benefit to the main point – understanding all sorts of different but curious characters and getting a taste of different mindsets and cultures. Going somewhere you’ve never been, doing something you’ve never done, the reason for it is not to snap a thousand photos and tick a box on your ‘before I kick the bucket’ checklist, the reason we do this is to enrich us, isn’t it?

PHILOSOPHY

Your house, your rules. I respect that. It may sound a bit old-fashioned but I prefer to have a clear introductory conversation about what is legal in your place. I’m a diplomat and I pay attention not to step on people’s toes. Which basically means I don’t touch your stuff without explicit permission and I don’t assume you’re ok with something without asking you. Also, I’ll do my best to elastically match my schedule to yours. Not the other way around.

As we’re at it - non-smoker, not much of a drinker either - only occasionally, so no alcohol in your place unless it’s you asking me to try out something local.

Religious beliefs: I’m rather a rationalist at this one.

Dietary restrictions: None. Usually I stick to a healthy quasi-paleo diet, but of course I’m going to ditch it in the name of a love affair with the local cuisine.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

It would be my pleasure to meet someone from Paris this summer. Wanted to go there from a very long time ;)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Strictly on the coachsurfing side, I’m a rookie. However, it’s not that unfamiliar to me. I’m working with foreigners on a daily basis. Some of these people I helped with setting up in Poland. English is the official language in the team, so I’m used to it like second nature. Lots of short time guests besides that – visiting lecturers, technicians, research collaborators. But usually all science oriented and professional. I mean, it’s both pleasant and satisfactory, but something just for the sake of the experience is always welcome.

Interests

A few things I enjoy and find interesting:

- Sports. I used to run, but I switched last year to tossing heavy things around. Years back, I had some fun with kendo (Japanese fencing) - soft spot for the East, again. Working out gets my mind clear. And the rush of oxygen and endorphins to the head... ;)

- Reading. Can’t live without it. There are those extraordinary people, whose brain exhaust fumes are most refreshing and invigorating. Thoroughly enjoy those types. Actually could stick them in flowerpots and keep somewhere near just for the atmosphere.

- Talking with people. A rare case of a stimulant with only positive side-effects. Especially late night conversations. There’s just something in it.

- Stand-up comedy. George Carlin, Jimmy Carr, Jim Jeffries, Bill Maher, Henry Rollins, Louis CK – to name a few.

- I like riddles. And art. I have to admit that I’m a profanic art consument with a particular interest in poster art – especially typographic ones. Oh, just mention ‘deviantart’ or ‘tumblr’ and you’ll cause me a few hour long blackout from ordinary existence. I collect the artwork I like the most on a tumblog – visualzen.tumblr.com

- I’ve got this thing, I like to know how stuff works. So yeah, science, physics, mathematics, engineering.

- Besides, neurology ('brain, the final frontier'), with a late interest in brain-computer interfaces... All the sci-fi and geeky stuff. Well, let’s just say I’m a little bit from the future ;)

• arts
• culture
• singing
• paleo diet
• dieting
• running
• working out
• meditation
• reading
• traveling
• sports
• fencing
• boxing
• engineering
• law
• mathematics
• physics
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Music taste - depends on the circumstances. For working out – rock, epic classical/soundtrack, something with a beat and a heart. For studying or late night thinking – lounge, old jazz, chilly cases of electronic, maybe djent. I try not to close myself in one genre, rather to broaden the horizons. Try new sounds and artists, especially aspiring and indie ones. And that’s exactly why I love 8tracks.

I like those movies from which you walk out as a little bit different person. Unusual. Provoking. Multi-layered. Non-trivial. As if the director was like ‘come, I’ve got this amazing story to tell you’ and bam, we’re on a ride. Short and indie movies are good at this.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I felt weightlessness for like a second or two.
Besides, have you seen the movie ‘Inception’? If it doesn’t ring your bell, just imagine that when you dream, you suddenly realize you are dreaming. How would you interact with this world made entirely of your very own consciousness? If the term ‘lucid dreaming’ is familiar to you, then we both find the intricate workings of the mind fascinating.

Teach, Learn, Share

If there’s anything you ever wanted to know about the complex and beautiful world we live in, I might not be able to give you the perfect “answer to life the universe and everything” (unless ‘42’ is satisfactory), but whatever is the object of your scientific curiosity, I can pretty much for sure tell you something you’d find intriguing.

On the other side – meditation and altered states of consciousness. I’m talking using one’s mind, not hemp. “Teaching” such things is complicated and takes time (an honest spoiler), however if you’re interested, I have a soft spot for deep and deeper conversations.