I'm a recovering 30-something, and currently working on my PhD in Soviet History (fun, I know). A massive (197cm) nerd and a mostly bespectacled social introvert (I like people and can do a convincing impression of an extrovert, but my social batteries do need occasional replacing).

I spent most of my 20s travelling, studying, and working around Europe and am keen to come back after that fun Pandemic we had.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm a firm believer that travelling should not be about checking in, moving between a series of rooms, and taking selfies in front of local sites. I want to learn what it's like to be a local of your home.

I have couchsurfed throughout my travels in Europe and each one has been rewarding and uniquely interesting whether it staying with a host for over a week, a night, 'emergency couchsurfing' (these guys are heroes) or having a drink. I am so grateful to each of you. I loved being able to host too and reciprocate.

Interests

I love history, and places where people know their history. If you are not into history that's totally cool and I'll try to moderate myself, but just know that if you want to tell me about the historical minutiae of your hometown or family you'll have a very enthusiastic conversationalist...

I also love theatre, particularly seeing stories, characters and ideas through different languages and cultures. When I was younger I used to do quite a bit of acting, and was hailed as a promising young talent until the Incident. Now I plot my revenge, and steel my dark heart against the day when my doubters and detractors will reap the dread harvest of their folly...

I really really wish I had my shit sufficiently together to learn all the languages I'd want to and am really hoping that some sort of pill or electronic helmet will be invented soon to help me. Priorities on my list would be Lithuanian, Vietnamese, Polish, Finnish, Welsh, Latvian, Serbian/Bosnian/Croatian, and English.

I love board games and my plan B for if (when) my academic career fizzles is to develop and market a board game based on Soviet Central Planning (I know what the youths like).

Riding (horses) and walking (feet), my main exercise comes from cycling. I like to cycle long-distance to get to places. So far I've gotten from Berlin to Vienna, from Hamburg to the northern tip of Denmark, from Krakow to Vienna and from Prague to Oxford.

• horses
• acting
• dancing
• cooking
• exercise
• running
• walking
• drinking
• politics
• board games
• traveling
• drawing
• cycling
• surfing
• fencing
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

One doesn't like to boast but I've read over five books and seen more than double that number of films. Big reads that have influenced me are Catch-22, When the Doves Disappeared, The Lord of the Rings, and anything by Kim Stanley Robinson or Ursula K. Leguin. My favourite film is probably a tie between the Grand Budapest Hotel and the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility directed by Ang Lee.

In terms of shows I have a culturally-ingrained weakness for British comedy, particularly Monty Python, Fry and Laurie, Mitchell and Webb, Black Books, and Mighty Boosh- y'know: the classics.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once found five euros. True story!

Teach, Learn, Share

What I want to learn: how to dance properly, how to play a musical instrument.
What I could teach (maybe): Unicycling, basic fencing, a damn good Gollum impersonation.
I love cooking with people! to say 'you never truly know someone until you cook (with) them' may be taking it too far, but it's still one of the best ways of getting to know someone I think. Not that I'm the best cook though- more funny to watch!

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, New Caledonia, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Austria, Estonia, Germany, Norway, Russian Federation, Singapore, Viet Nam

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