CURRENT MISSION

No special mission, just life. Perhaps someday write a book on industrial music. Something significant. A friend said: "write like a warrior." I'm still not sure what she meant (cause I don't think warriors carry a lot of pens) but it sounds interesting.

ABOUT ME

In the last few years, I have been invited me to present at a couple conference: Sometimes, I am choosing CS rather over hotel / hostels rooms.

No, the money is not the main reason. I'm happy to meet local people and go on a little visit or just have a coffee/drink and talk with them. I have made real friends this way, and I am so please about it.

Yes, I have been hosting people now and then, sometimes up to 3 people, whenever I can. It's harder this year because I have a small living space.
Thank you for reading! I hope all is well for you!
Long live Couchsurfing!!

Je m'appelle Gilles.
J'ai fait une thèse l'université du Kansas (USA) Né à Dijon, et grandi à Dole, dans le Jura, et fait des études dans l'Est de la France. Fin des études et premier vrai job à Paris.
Ensuite, nouveau petit séjour dans le Kansas, où j'avais étudié comme visiteur d'échange. Ce séjour qui devait durer un an mais s'est prolongé.

Je ne suis pas contre un bon fou rire. Je ne déteste ni mes amis, ni ma famille. :-)
Et sinon, bien sûr que j'adore la musique, les livres et les films. Enlevez-les moi pendant une semaine et vous me verrez manquer de quelque chose d'essentiel, voire dépérir.

Passion non démentie pour les langues, dernière en date: le polonais. Trois semestres de polonais à mon actif, et séjour pour pratiquer, d'où mon inscription sur le site. Une langue pas facile, et le Polonais en particulier, c'est rien de le dire...

Je suis toujours content d'échanger, sur la culture, les petites choses de la vie, l'écriture, etc. Les voyages offrent des possibilités passionnantes, et des contacts qui peuvent parfois etre maintenus.

J'ose me croire attentif, honnête et respectueux. C'est deja pas si mal, non?

My name is Gilles, I am French, I live in Fayetteville, Arkansas, but I spent the summer 2010 in France, Germany and Poland, which is why I joined this site, after having heard incredible stories of traveling with CS.

I was born in Dijon, then raised and (somewhat) educated in Eastern France.
Then I went to Paris to study some more and to (somewhat) work.

II got a my PhD in contemporary french lit at the University of Kansas, USA. I know it's sort of a weird move; from the outside, custom officers always look at me in disbelief. It is, however, a (somewhat) reasonable choice.

I love my friends and family. You are probably surprised by this incredible revelation.

I also love music, books, and films. Take my books and music away from me for a week or two and you'll see me puzzled, then lost, then you won't see me again, ever. You'd also prove (somewhat) sadistic, so please refrain from doing that.
I teach French at KU and I translate fiction and non-fiction. I play a bit of music too.

I'm (somewhat) sincere, easygoing, thoughtful, and respectful.
:-)

Traveling offers a precious opportunity to meet new great friends, I think that now I have started my trip in Poland, I will recommend to all my friends to visit this country. I'm so happy to be here and to meet nice people everywhere. I had the feeling this trip would be memorable, and I can already say it is.

PHILOSOPHY

Be cool, be nice, get sponsored by Levis.

(okay, I stole these lyrics...)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I wish I could offer people to couch at my place next year but right now my roommate has his daughters over often and he doesn't feel completely comfortable with having another host.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Ann Arbor, Michigan - Lubbock, Texas - Hamilton (Ontario) - Montreal (Québec): all fantastic moments and guests...

Two nights in Bordeaux, France, at two different and equally nice hosts. Merci Guillaume, merci Ludivine!

One night in Toulouse, merci Samuel!

Two nights in Zielona Gora (Poland), thank you Michal! I hope your skydiving jumps were awesome!

Two nights in Poznan, thank you so much Agata!

Quite a few nights in Warszawa, thank you Maczek!

And also many couchsurfers met on various occasion while traveling. It always adds to a trip and makes the discovery of a new place nicer.

Interests

Indie pop but really everything, including industrial
Novels
Films
Running long distance
Traveling
Meeting old and new friends
Stealing all the good stuff in people's apartment while couchsurfing. (Juuust KIDDING!! You are actually reading, thank you!) ;-)

• culture
• books
• coffee
• running
• drinking
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• music
• indie pop
• industrial music
• skydiving
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Austra, Trust, Melpo Mene, Musée Mécanique, Catpower, CocoRosie, Laura Veirs, Pinback, Mew, Natalie Merchant, Swedish pop. I'm really into music. It's one of the areas in which I'm passionate and knowledgeable.

Novels: US and french contemporary literature. Strong interest in discovering Polish and German contemporary ASAP.

Films: Truffaut, David Lynch, Billy Wilder, Tarnation, etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Swell, Catpower, CocoRosie on stage - if we talk about music. Oh, we weren't?

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach French! Some other languages too.
I'm pretty good at making delicious quiches!
I'm also good a making CDs filled with great songs, or finding new things to listen, or rounding up a good bunch of friends to go see an exciting show.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States