CURRENT MISSION

Living eternal holidays ! (almost ;-)

ABOUT ME

Hi folks ! I've been back to Couchsurfing on January 8th of 2014.

I come from Normandy and have a rather international background, with family in the US and a fair UK experience due to many ferry trips since I was a kid. I am a sporty, easy-going and energetic guy with a taste for culture and the various it can be celebrated , i.e traveling , meeting different people, sharing cuisne and party times !
A French saying says that travels can shape young people. Even though Im settled in Normandy now, I make sure I keep a traveler lifestyle. Even when I started my career in Paris, I lived in ethnic districts (China Town, Montmartre...) and changed flat every 6 months. Specialist of overseas week end trips... to England, it's a short ferry-journey away from my hometown Dieppe. With family, I've been to a few EU countries + visited family and friends in the US quite a few times. I studied in London for a while, and returned there in Oct 04. I had promised to visit the Antipodeans in their home-country, this just materialised as I arrived in April 05 for a year in Australia and NZ.
I'm a sociable person, who enjoys talking, partying, BBQing, even singing ! I was member of the London Surf Club 7 years in a row, even while being back to France. As a traveler, I am flexible and love cooking with/for my hosts.

PHILOSOPHY

Have lust for life, respect yourself, the others, environment and find innner peace through interculturalism and perpetual motion !

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I 've welcome CSers more than I stayed at CSers. Quite used to staying at friends, though !
I have also lived with flat-mates for several years in total.

Interests

For two years, I've commited into theatre : I saw it as just a practice at the start but it's turning into a passion, something fun that I'd get up at night to do. Currently preparing a role in a play by Arthur Schnitzler (public show on June 19-20-21 2015).

I've been practising quite a few sports, today surfing, yoga, and cycling (road and off road...) are my favourites. Surfing has been the motive for dozens of trips to south of France, Britain, and a full year in Australia.

Since I completed my environment studies, in relation with urban planning, I enjoy exploring city streets, deciphering local history through urban landmarks, trying to enjoy architecture and understand how today's cities have developed. when I cycle-tour in countrysides, I have a similarly curious eye for things around me + enjoy the proximity of nature and wildlife.

Travelling is one passion... it's also a way to fulfil my passions, e.g when it comes to outdoors sports (e.g. surfing, snorkeling etc)... as soon as I can do some sport on a trip (and thereby meet locals btw),then I feel at home anywhere. I also like volleyball, hanging out in pubs with mates after volleyball and in cafes before, visiting art exhibitions, attending conferences about management, social sciences, potentially history and arts and sharing some of the bright new ideas with friends live or via the internet, following society debates through daily press, debating with friends around a pub table, walking in town and enjoying the day ...

• animals
• wildlife
• arts
• culture
• literature
• singing
• architecture
• environment
• cooking
• recipes
• yoga
• running
• walking
• partying
• clubbing
• pub crawls
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• surfing
• snorkeling
• sports
• volleyball
• swimming
• history
• religion
• social science

Music, Movies, and Books

All movies by Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood.
Music : mad with 70ies bands, incl. Rolling Stones, Talking Heads (+ David Byrne solo), The Who, Roxy Music, David Bowie, etc
In London, I grew a taste for delicate electro music (artists such as Psyoni, Captain Cook, Aerospace, Arcade Fire)... That revived my attention to that unique German band (still hitting after a 40 year life cycle) : Kraftwerk.

Books : I had a long Robert Louis Stevenson (his short stories in particular ) and books about sea travels. The one contemporary French author I'd recommend is Patrick Modiano, but I'd read them all if I had time, same for authors from any countries. Like to read authors of countries I travel in.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I haven't climbed the Mont-Blanc and my longest cycle tour was only 1 hundred kilometers in one day from Biscarosse to Hossegor...

But there 's one thing that left a footprint on me (if I have to mention just one...): in May 2006 in Yamba (New South Wales, Australia), I saw seven dolphins playing in the surf. I tried to swim to them but got caught in a current. I realized how inadapted to water man can be... Dolphins are friendly animals, willing to rescue a swimmer, but they wouldn't come close to me, reciprocally they are inadapted to shallow waters ! I was glad to make it back safely !

Teach, Learn, Share

I taught English for temporary work between March 2014 and February 2015. Due a steady yoga practice since 2008, there are some postures that I'm keen to show and share with people I meet when the talk drifts to well-being and health.
I always enjoy sharing literature experience and all that is related to reading: culture in general, society, politics in an informative way rather than controversial, travels and cultures/religions of visited countries...

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'd be more than happy to share yoga tips, and I'm up for cooking too, even trying new recipes. Always for visiting the area through a running or power-walking session too.

Oftentimes, while discussing with people whom I met when I travel, I spontaneously share my topics of interest and make them realize there is such or such great thing near their place, like an outstanding community project led by local players or by innovative local authorities (there are some, that are possibly open on interesting participatory governance modes...

Countries I’ve Visited

Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, France, United Kingdom