CURRENT MISSION

Current mission is to become a better person, little by little, day by day! Sharing and learning, meeting new people from around the globe.

ABOUT ME

Hello world,

my name is Claude, originally from Romania. It's hard to fit in a few lines what I am about as I am constantly evolving as is the world around me, and so do my interests, however I can say that I am a good honest man, friendly, open minded, direct, curious about the world and all its inhabitants, spontaneous, hospitable, generous, and sometimes funny and silly.
I came to London 13 years ago as a beady eyed 19 year old thirsty for a different kind of life. I had no idea as to what that would be so I let my instinct guide me through some treacherous and winding paths, filled to the brim with learning opportunities, some tough lessons and heaps of adventure and fun. I am thankful for each and every one of them. I've learned about unconditional love, the importance of friends as an extended family, trust, commitment, respect for all living beings, expectation and forgiveness.

I'd like to share a story with you all.
A few years back after an inspiring trip to Costa Rica, something started stirring in me and since then I've been slowly waking up to a heightened state of awareness. A great sense of plenty was equally drowned by an even stronger sense of all around dissatisfaction that affected all aspects of life. I was unhappy, BIG TIME! As I slowly sobered up to see life with a fresh honest outlook I pondered: what's my role in this chaos? How can I contribute to a better life for all living beings? I had no idea how to go about it so I asked the universe for help. Skeptical at first, I soon realized I had nothing to lose and started believing in my strengths, learning capabilities, passion for plants, and Gaia, our Mother, I connected to the good in me and the realization to fulfill my potential. A passionate advocate for the unsung heroes of our planet: PLANTS! Permaculture and Ethnobotany/Ethnopharmacology emerged as natural courses of learning/exploration/action that bring together all the tools, principles and ethics needed by us all to heal ourselves and have a future on this beautiful and fragile planet we inhabit.
Answers and new mind blowing opportunities are now materializing into projects that have taken me to New York and Montreal in October 2012. I am embracing them all with humble awe!

As a host I like to make people feel at home, by offering a relaxed, comfy, safe environment where we can all be ourselves and happy to be sharing the space, our time, food, long conversations and laughter.
As a guest, I am clean, tidy, respectful and like to engage and learn about my host and their journey in life as well as sharing some memorable times.
I am a keen observer of people and nature.
I feel grateful for London. It's a true melting pot that welcomes every kind of folk and so am I, love people and good company.

PHILOSOPHY

Live and let live! Be honest with yourself and others! Love life! Smile! Real connection with nature and people has proved to be the most profound source of learning, inspiration, discovery and personal growth. Travel and see the world! Consume less, live more! Solutions are found within problems!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Due to current circumstances i am unable to host from May for a while.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Shared memorable experiences and made solid friendships whist hosting and surfing.

Interests

I went to New York in October 16th-19th and 25th till 3rd of November 2012 for an amazing art project that marries technology/biology/art and creative genius. You can check it out here. http://www.biomodd.net/biomoddnyc4

My greatest passion at present is Permaculture and sustainable living. I am an avid organic gardener and aspire to grow almost all of my own food/medicine in my large garden in North London using Permaculture principles and ethics. Nowhere near it, but getting closer and learning fascinating facts every day. I like the idea of living in harmony with nature, i think it can be achieved and believe that all creatures big and small have a place and purpose on this planet.
I am am not sure if i'm a hippy, even though I do hug the occasional tree!
I was brought up a free range kid with summers roaming barefoot around beautiful Romanian countryside at the foot of the Carpathians, with no roads or pollution.
After 13 years of living hard and fast my consciousness is drifting back to basics, to simple living where greed and ego are replaced by ingenuity, togetherness and sharing.
Also into yoga, exploring by foot, wild swimming, cycling.
My dream is to build my own house out of natural materials, cob, straw, wood. I am very inspired by people like Mike Reynolds and Sunray Kelley who came up maverick solutions for sustainable living by using recycled tires, bottles and cans as building blocks that contain mass to trap energy. The dream is to create an autonomous, off the grid home that harvests it's own water and energy from the elements, recycles waste water, offers comfortable shelter to humans and grows it's own food. Mike and Sunray are some of the most inspiring people I came across in my entire life!
If you want to be inspired or just spend a lazy afternoon watching something that will blow your mind, please watch this documentary "Garbage Warrior" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrMJwIedrWU
A beautiful short clip of Sunray Kelley here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhYfmqR3L2Q.

• arts
• documentaries
• environment
• ethics
• dining
• cooking
• yoga
• walking
• gardening
• technology
• traveling
• magic
• cycling
• surfing
• swimming
• biology
• medicine
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Anything with Meryl Streep, Out of Africa, Angels in America, or by any of these directors Tarantino, Almodovar, Coen Brothers
Series: Weeds, Fringe, Breaking Bad
World cinema, indie films.
Documentaries: Anima Mundi, http://animamundimovie.com/
Books: The Lost Language of Plants by Stephen Harrod Buhner, Earth Users guide to Permaculture, Rosemary Morrow, Permanent Publications, Bill Mollison, David Holmgren, Sepp Holzer, The One-straw revolution, Masanubo Fukuoka
Marquez, Magical Thinking, Sellevision, Running with Scissors, pretty much anything by Augusten Burroughs, Robert Anton Wilson, Timothy Leary, Terrence McKenna, James Lovelock
Music: from soothing piano to dreamy psychedelic to Janelle Monae, Empire of the Sun, The Wild Beasts, Zero Cult, Schponghle, Bent and it goes on and on...:)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Trekking barefoot in virgin forest on the west coast of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu the beautiful island nation of the South Pacific and walking up in the middle of the night out of my hammock to a twinkling forest floor glowing with luminescent mushrooms with a sky pregnant with stars above and a blue moon. A wide web of interconnected veins glowing in the moonlight! 3 nights of magical Avatar moments! Life changing experience.

Teach, Learn, Share

I believe there is something to learn from everyone so open to sharing knowledge, experience and passions. I like to grow my own food, moved to this home in March 2012, and witnessed a lot of magic and lots of little miracles unravel in the garden. Looking to share that with any one interested. I am also a good creative cook and love to prepare fresh simple dishes to share with friends and family.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United States, Vanuatu

Countries I’ve Lived In

Romania