CURRENT MISSION

Finding my path

ABOUT ME

Hi!

I am passionate about learning and discovering all that is meaningful to me in this world. For work, I have chosen a freelance route which I hope will lead to something that gives meaning and fulfilment. In less vague terms, I am currently working in commercial translation but aiming to do translate and continue writing stories and perhaps poetry in the near future (starting with a summer school at the University of East Anglia in Norwich).

PHILOSOPHY

Everyone on this planet has great mental, spiritual and physical potential, much of which we don't realise. With more creativity in our lives, more openness and broadened horizons, we could achieve much more in protecting the planet and humanity. With an inner and outer smile, we can spread more happiness in the world. I am trying to find a way to keep smiling, so am fascinated by various philosophies and belief systems.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love travelling especially to feel the essence of another culture and way of life, to live differently and challenge my world view. And I believe this is only really possible through meeting new friends and exchanges.

I have hosted travellers in Belgium and Scotland, as well as surfing in various countries.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I enjoyed my couchsurfing experiences in Strasbourg, Québec, Heidelberg, Granada, Madrid, London, Aberdeen and Zürich as all hosts were hospitable and friendly and really made an effort to contribute to memorable experiences. All these experiences convinced me to continue participating in the couchsurfing project. Hosting allowed me to travel in my mind thanks to the enthusiasm of my guests and their stories of adventures and from their home lands.

Interests

Rollerblading and teaching my girlfriend to keep up with me
Ice skating - I have tried ice hockey, speed skating, and figure skating and just love the feeling of carving sharp curves on pristine ice and moving with grace and speed.
Cycling at a leisurely, relaxing pace and taking in the scenery and fresh air
Walking - above all with my girlfriend and my dog :)
Learning languages - While a student, my passion for languages led me to write a dissertation on the economics of minority language policies, in particular those promoting Scottish Gaelic.
Reading fiction, articles on philosophy, anarchism, feminism and much more.
Creative writing - short stories, journals, and a blog to come soon.
Organic gardening - especially growing food.
Creativity and realising more of the mind's potential - I am interested for example in Win Wenger's image streaming exercises in visualisation, awareness and problem -solving and Tony Buzan's mindmapping techniques.

• dogs
• culture
• writing
• perfumes
• womens rights
• dining
• walking
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• cycling
• surfing
• hockey
• economics
• freelancing
• languages
• law
• volunteering
• cinema
• theatre

Music, Movies, and Books

Independent films like Seachd (a Scottish Gaelic film), Goodbye Lenin, Vitus, films by Almodovar; Amélie, le Chateau de ma mère,

Traditional and folk music, classical, rock, indy, post-rock
Books: Lord of the Rings, Measuring the World (Daniel Kehlmann), Haruki Murakami, poetry e.g. by Philippe Jacotet, Robert Burns (celebrated Scottish poet), Gaelic poets like Derrick Thomson and Sorley MacLean; Omar Khayaam...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once led a successful campaign for a local skate park and received a Young Citizen of the Year award. In 2008 I volunteered at the World Youth Congress as a volunteer and participated in a Summer school on social enterprise - that wasn't impressive in itself, but meeting so many people striving to make things better in their countries showed me the importance of non-governmental action and social enterprise in the world.

Teach, Learn, Share

Our collective and individual creative and intellectual capacity is, in my opinion, immense. There are so many ways to have a positive impact on the world, and becoming the person we want and need to be is a good start. By trying new activities, being creative and positive in our daily lives, and showing solidarity with others in more difficult circumstances, we can lead fulfilling lives and encourage others to do so too.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Apart from sharing my experiences, I would be happy to share any skill or knowledge my hosts value. I have training in pedagogy and experience in teaching languages which may be useful, particularly for those who want to improve their English, learn some Gaelic or just try new techniques for learning autonomously and confidently. I can also introduce you to image streaming so you can explore how this can benefit you.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

•