Hi, my name is Greg and I am an English guy currently living in the north-east of France. I love learning new languages and playing music. Now that the confinement is starting to be relaxed, I would really like to go travelling and meet new people. I would also like to use the languages that I am learning in the countries where they are spoken.
My main job is as an English teacher but I also play Brazilian music with my friends in restaurants, cafes and local festivals. I love the way that both teaching and music create exciting interactions with different people. I love to cook meat-free food and share it with friends. I enjoy sport and exercising, especially capoeira and rollerblading.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I first joined Couchsurfing thanks to a friend who was already a member. He had a really diverse group of interesting friends and he had travelled to so many different places, so I wanted to know his secret! He told me about Couchsurfing so I joined up. Couchsurfing helped me to make real friendships when I arrived in France and was feeling alone. Many of them have become friends for life.
I have spent quite a long time without travelling. Now I really want to get out of my bubble and see the world around me. I think that Couchsurfing is the perfect way to visit new countries and meet kind and interesting new people. I would also like to practice speaking the languages I am learning with native speakers.

Interests

I love to learn languages (especially Brazilian Portuguese and Italian) but I also love to teach English too. I play the accordion, piano and a selection of different percussion instruments. I play in a small group as well as a local association that helps musicians to develop their abilities.
I also play capoeira and it is where I discovered a deep love of Brazilian culture and music. I have recently started rollerblading to keep fit and I find it quite addictive!
Before I became an English teacher, I studied furniture making and I still love craft and construction but I am less involved wood working these days. I hope to return to it when I have the time.

• capoeira
• cooking
• music
• languages
• rollerblading

Music, Movies, and Books

I love listening to a wide range of styles, what I like most are nice melodies, vocals and chords as well as engaging rhythms. It could be jazz, metal, house or soul because, if I find something I like inside the music, I will listen to it and enjoy it. The main styles that I play are jazz manouche, forró and European folk music though I am open to trying out new sounds and styles.
I mostly read to improve my foreign language skills but I when I read in English I love biographies, histories and classic detective novels.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Before I became an English teacher, I spent one year learning how to make traditional French chairs from wood. My teacher was an amazing person and, more than just teaching me how to make furniture, he showed me how to teach. I am really happy to have had this experience even if I am doing something very different right now.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am very willing to help the people who are kind enough to host me. If you need help with your English, or you just want to speak it, I can do that. I always offer encouragement and try to help people build their self-confidence when they take part in a conversation. I can also help with French but I am not a native speaker
I will happily pass on what I know about playing musical instruments if it is useful. I am always ready to jam and sing together too.
I still have a good understanding of basic woodworking techniques, especially using hand tools.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love to cook and I would be more than happy to cook for my host. I normally cook vegan food for myself but I sometimes cook and eat vegetarian food at social gatherings. I will help with the washing up and cleaning too.
If you do need any help with English, I will bring as much material and teaching experience as I can to help you. If my experience as a musician can be helpful to you too, I will gladly share what I know.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United Kingdom