CURRENT MISSION

My mission, as it's so put, is to get some serious travel done while i have the chance, meet as many new people as i can, and become something more than what i currently am.

ABOUT ME

Where to begin. I'm a 28 year old Aussie/Kiwi who's spent his recent 'young adult' years studying at Uni, playing guitar, practicing Capoeira and making friends.
I've been working as a crew member on as many films, tv shows, and commercials as i can trying to learn the industry from the inside out.
I would describe myself as a friendly guy, with a real passion for making new friends and learning new things. I love playing guitar as a past-time, and have taught a bit of Capoeira which i find also to be very rewarding. I have a knack for sarcasm, if you can call that a knack, and would generally fall into the 'joker' category if you were to ask my mates. I hope.
Describing yourself is a bit of a bizarre ritual, so take what i say here with a grain of sugar and you'll find i'm a little more modest in real life, and much much funnier.
I'm really just looking forward to traveling and making new friends everywhere i go, and i hope i'm privileged enough to crash on a few good couches owned by a few great people.

PHILOSOPHY

I've lived my life mostly around the philosophy that if you get the opportunity to laugh, you ought to take it. It's not as difficult to be happy or see the bright side as some often think, but it is sometimes necessary to ride out the bad before getting the good. There's an upside to all things, no matter what the ratio, and indeed it usually works out that if you're hitting the lows, you're gonna understand even better how to both get and give the highs.
Essentially wisdom and smarts are 2 very separate categories, and whilst smarts can be learnt with time and effort, wisdom is further attained by your ability to empathize and your drive to inspire.
Aside from all that philosophy, it's occurred to me that there's a very significant dualism to our existence, but one that is also exceptionally insignificant as a result; and vice versa. Meaning, ultimately, that it's best to just get on with it, and stuff will either happen or it won't. Murphy's Law, and all that.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'd say my participation comes down mostly to my decent banter and my good spirits. I'm always up for something fun, and will gladly have a chat or drink with whomever is keen for a good memory or two.
I can play guitar, but am in no way the guy at the party who sings and plays guitar to keep everyone entertained. I do, however, love having jams with people and relish every opportunity i get to have one.
Having said that, i am not the sort of person to keep anyone up all night, and am empathetic and conscientious to the wants and needs of those i'm with. I don't think being rude is necessary, and i prefer to adapt to learn rather than conflict to be heard.
To be blunt, i am someone you are bound to get along with, as to be hosting on CouchSurfing means we've got that mutual desire to meet new people, have fun and be accommodating. Here's hoping you like music and we're all set.
Cheers!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Thus far i have no CouchSurfing experiences of my own, and have only met couch-surfers as they have been surfing here with my friends. I have stayed on many a couch throughout all of NZ, just through word-of-mouth, and can never get enough of staying and living with new people.
I love the concept, as i believe the free trade of accommodation and friendship is the best possible way to broaden as many minds as possible. I'm hoping that from here on out i will have much more to say in the way of CouchSurfing, and i can't wait to see what i write.

Interests

Ok, here goes: Guitar (electric and acoustic), Capoeira (a Brazilian martial art/game), rock climbing (mostly bouldering), video games (great time waster), films (watching/making/any genre), drums (if there's ever an opportunity to do so without waking up everyone), photography (mostly landscapes, and just as a hobby), archery (recently picked up, but insanely fun), Judo and most martial arts (not much interested in fighting, so much as i enjoy the control and culture), the gym (mostly for my Capoeira training, but i enjoy weights as a means of having more control over my body), yoga (flexibility and control motivated again by the improved use of my body), stand-up comedy (i'd love to give this a proper shot, but just love it on the whole really), skiing/snowboarding/surfing (plenty of snow here in NZ, and surfing i'll be doing much more of in good weather), and lets finish with traveling (as that's pretty self-explanatory right here)

• arts
• culture
• photography
• capoeira
• yoga
• partying
• drinking
• movies
• video games
• tv
• traveling
• bouldering
• music
• guitar
• drums
• surfing
• skiing
• snowboarding
• sports
• martial arts
• rock climbing
• archery
• communications
• history
• beaches
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

Honestly, this section would take me a long long time to fill out with everything i have in mind. I'll list 3 of each, and it'll just be 3 goodies that come to mind now:
Movies - The Life Aquatic, A Clockwork Orange, and Moon.
Music - Led Zeppelin, Arcade Fire, and Buena Vista Social Club
Books - The Hobbit, Steve Jobs, and Harry Potter (i don't care that it's obvious)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've trekked glaciers, completed a dissertation, driven celebrities, drunk a yard glass, learnt the guitar, nailed the standing backflip, driven the entirety of the NZ South Island.
I've just realised it's supposed to be one thing, brilliant. So lets go with, I just spent the last 6 months of my life on a film crew and watched the entirety of a film being shot, from very start to finish, learning and growing with each of the crew and actors as i saw a piece of art being made in front of me. Truly both a privilege and a pleasure.

Teach, Learn, Share

It can be a little intimidating spouting off what you think you have to impart to others, as i do my imparting best when in a relaxed state with friends. However, as it is friends that i wish to stay with, this state may come on quickly.
I guess i can teach music theory and how to play guitar and drums to a degree, though not to a professional of either. But if that person has an interest in music, i've found it is a topic that allows for growth rapidly via that passion.
I have been practicing Capoeira since roughly 2006, so i'm quite adept at the sport and it's intricacies in the physical sense. I've been poor with my Portuguese learning, but i can explain the history and show some fun acrobatic moves. Great fun at the beach and in parks.
I would claim watching movies and playing video games, as i have undoubtedly mastered both, but i'm not so certain those are noteworthy skills on the CouchSurfing website. But yes, i can teach these...
I have a degree in film and media, and in Classical History, and so if you have any interest in these (in particular Greek Mythology) i can chat away about them for a bit. Bloody interesting if you ask me; read Homer's 'The Odyssey' for more.
Unlike Odysseus, my travel experience is more limited than i would prefer, at least traveling by myself i should say. However, as i have lived in New Zealand for the past 14 years, i can give much advice on this gorgeous country and help out where the future's concerned.
Other than these, i suppose my teaching will come down mostly to some chilled conversation and good ol' fashioned cultural integration.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Croatia, Denmark, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Japan, New Zealand