Hi, salut, Ola, salam, kon'nitchiwa !

I am Chris from Paris.
Those last years, I felt like a lost soul in the ocean of life. I studied stg I didn't like, I was doing things unhealthy for my body, I was bored of everything. Travelling has been like a new life for me ! It is not holidays at all, I take the opportunity to travel has a chance to improve myself. I discovered solo travelling, and it all turned clearer in my mind.

In 2014, I co-founded "On est la" association to help and support young cancer patients then volunteered in favour of homeless people

I am French, I therefore love baguettes, philosophy and then debate, debate again and again.
My father is Lebanese. As a consequence, cooking is very easy to me and the Lebanese war has no secret for me. The last but not the least, Iaughing is my favourite quality. My mother is Armenian. I don't speak any Armenian nor have I ever been to Armenia. What a shame !! And above all, I already visited Turkey ...

This triple culture fueled my desire to more and more travel worldwide. Since I lived through a genocide as well as wars and Parisian accordions, here I am ready to stride along the globe.

I am a competitor at heart, fear is my guide. As soon as something frightens me, I have drive ! Today, writing down my profile and trying to meet new people and make new contacts , opens my mind and fosters my desire to go outside my comfort zone and it will make me grow. 
The first time I saw a friend on stage, I was scared as hell. Five months later, I was in a band as a lead singer. One year in, I played solo on-stage with my guitar. Same for travels. We often went to the Middle East with my family (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria) but travelling alone always scared me. 
After my cancer, I spent a month in India. It was in 2013. Since then, my thirst only grew.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I was 12 years old for my first CS, I was sleeping at my friend’s place. It was actually a pyjama party, we were 4 people : 2 boys and 2 girls. After the party, this boy became my best friend, and I still get to see the other girls. Then CS appeared and allowed thousands of pyjama parties to happen! I got the opportunity to travel a lot without using CS, and with the passing time I figured out that the best moments were when I met locals. They were so generous and had a unique sense of hospitality. I wish I could travel the world like I taste a buffet, taking the time to appreciate each meeting, culture and adventure. I think that CS is the best way to achieve this dream!

Interests

Nomad life

• culture
• writing
• salsa dancing
• cooking
• meditation
• chess
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• healthy lifestyle
• workout
• percussion

Music, Movies, and Books

- Soul, Funk, Blues song (Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, bill Withers, Otis Reding, Etta James, Sly and the family Stone)
- Techno/minimal (Nicolas Jaar, Maceo Plex, Nicolas Cruz, Laurent Garnier)
- French singers : Léo Ferré, Brassens, Gainsbourg, Jacques Brel..

Actors : Louis de Funès, Charlie Chaplin
Forrest Gump
Le Péril Jeune
A clockwork Orange
Little miss sunshine
One flew over the cuckoo's net
O Brother
Lock, stock & two smoking barrels
12 angry men
Nemo (of course !)

-Jack London (especially Martin Eden)
-All books from Hermann Hesse (Siddhartha, steppenwolf, Demian..)
-Georges Orwell (1984, animal farm)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

- Vipassana retreat : 10 days of meditation without talking, neither reading.
- Crossed over 6 countries by bike along the Danube
- Have a gig in a bar crowded by prostitutes in Nosy Be, Madagascar
- Participated in the regional championship of roller-skating
- Holding a blog http://Petit-pays.com
- Had a cancer !

What I Can Share with Hosts

- Plenty of stories
- I speak French, English, Arabic also and sing in many langages
- Have often my guitar on my back, I will give some tips.
- How to get your own website on Wordpress
- One of the best Lebanese cook
- Love sport : tennis, football, rollerskate, volley, basketball..

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Macedonia, Madagascar, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, France, Lebanon