I'm an ex-PhD student travelling the world, trying to make a new career as a freelance dancer, writer and teacher. It's a slow process, but in the time I've been on the road I have made some small progress.

I love to dance, and I love to walk and absorb the energy of a place, on my own or in the presence of a trusted companion. I love to learn new things, and tell you the things I know.
I'm a native speaker of English, and I know a tiny bit of German, but I want to learn more. Perhaps Spanish, or Portuguese. Whenever I visit a country I like to see how much I can learn by listening to the locals and asking questions on occasion.

I should point out that while I genuinely enjoy the company of others, I am naturally an introverted personality, and sometimes it is important for me to take my own space. So please don't be offended if I turn up at your place and you see that I'm spending a lot of time by myself. I promise that with time, I will open up, especially if we find a common activity, or if we're lucky enough to have a natural connection.

I'm currently trying to learn capoeira, but I know all sorts of little things about dance and movement. If you invite me into your home, I would be more than happy to share with you what I know, as I really enjoy teaching and explaining ideas to people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The people you meet who are willing to share with you always lead to a richer path in life. I have couchsurfed with other people without using this website, and the experience always taught us something new.

Interests

• writing
• capoeira
• reading
• dance
• movement
• playing chess
• swing dance

Music, Movies, and Books

Music and literature are two very powerful influences in my life. Film is less so, but certainly important. And the great thing about these things (and anything else, for that matter) is that there's way too much of it for any one person to ever be able to read, watch, listen or dance to everything. It means if you get bored you just need to find something else. And you will always find something eventually :)

Whenever someone asks me for music, I go to Tom Waits first. Not just because of his music, but because of his style and approach to the music world. And then you have Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Gogol Bordello, Supertramp, Ellington, Captain Beefheart, and so on.

For literature I am maybe a little more picky. But I loved 100 years of Solitude, and House of Leaves. In fact, I was considering spending a few years learning Spanish just so I could read 100 years of Solitude in its original language. Who knows, maybe I'll even go to Colombia to do exactly that.

I will always try anything that people suggest, and when I remember something I read or watched years ago that really influenced me, I like to talk about it.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

It's amazing when you connect with someone and you get a sudden rush of some powerful emotion, like excitement, or a calm joy. It's very rare and that's what makes it so great.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to learn new dances, and to show people the things I already know. Sharing knowledge like this is a joyful experience for me, and it's a great way to connect with people when conversation doesn't work. I can teach you to dance swing, blues, contact improvisation, and even a little capoeira.

If you know Flamenco, or Tango, or a martial art like Aikido, I would also be very interested in in an exchange of knowledge.

And we can talk about common books, or music, or our deep desires, or the weather... whatever :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can show you my knowledge of science, and my knowledge and love of dancing and movement. And we can play chess, or if you have an instrument I can sing along if I know the lyrics, and improvise a rhythm.

And I can provide a calm, relaxed personality. I have found that even in the busiest places, you can find a peace inside and use it to remain unperturbed by the noise around you. It's a skill that really helped me out when I used to live in London, and it's wonderful to share that peace with someone else in the same state.

But remember, I do need to take my own space sometimes, and I'm not a fan of big parties, except on rare occasions. Otherwise, I'm always willing to share and appreciate what anyone wants to share with me. I just need to be asked.

Countries I’ve Visited

Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Scotland, Spain, United States, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom