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Overview

  • 6 references 4 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English, French, Spanish; learning Arabic, Portuguese
  • 55, Male
  • Member since 2008
  • By travelling & learning as much as I possibly can. I...
  • BA (Modern Languages - French/Spanish), PGCE (Secondary F...
  • From Liverpool, UK
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

To survive the upcoming Egyptian elections

ABOUT ME

What people think of me is much more important that what I think about myself. Read my references to find out more, but I'm certainly well-travelled and well-educated. I get itchy feet very easily and imagine I may well just continue being on the move.

PHILOSOPHY

"To never forget how lucky I am to have been born who I am & where I am in life's completely ambiguous lottery" Unfortunately, I forget far too often.

"To do unto others as I would like them to do unto me"

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have offered space to travellers when possible. I will look for couches for my next trip.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first was being dragged off the streets of Paris as a 16-year old when I had no idea what I was doing nor where I was at 1am. Since then, wherever I lay my bag that's my home. If I have a couch, all the better!!

Interests

Travelling - first & foremost; lots of sports (football, cycling, swimming); keeping fit; hiking; reading, particularly travel literature; listening to music; finding new & exciting places to hang-out.

  • literature
  • reading
  • traveling
  • music
  • cycling
  • hiking
  • sports
  • soccer
  • swimming

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - I have a very varied selection in my iTunes Library, including lots of late '60s & early '70s, as well as Cuban & African music.

Movies - Anything by Pedro Almodovar; I love French & British cinema and am intrigued by the recent-ish surge in quality Iranian cinema; not a big fan of Hollywood but enjoy the quality acting of people like Morgan Freeman & John Malkovitch.

Books - 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is my favourite work of fiction (Harper Lee's one & only novel - what a shame!) but I read little fiction; 'The Kite Runner' is one of my favourites of recently read stuff; so much travel literature that it's hard to list but Jason Elliot & Johnny Bealby figure highly and wouldn't it be briliant if communities like the one created in Alex Garland's 'The Beach' were actually viable. Also, an avid reader of those who cycle travel, with special mention to the recently deceased Anne Mustoe and Dervla Murphy. I like Alastair Humphreys & will get around to reading 'The Man Who Cycled The World' & 'The Man Who Cycled The Americas'.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went Gorilla trekking in the DRC in summer 2007! A completely amazing and humbling experience, especiallyy as just before I had arrived 8 gorillas had been murdered. Too many others things to mention, but highlights include an overland/sea trip from Australia to Bali through the Nusa Tenggara & cycling for 12 days through the Alaskan Wilderness between Prudhoe Bay & Fairbanks; & seeing a black bear 2 feet from me as I cycled past in Canada's Yukon.

Teach, Learn, Share

Surely that depends upon the exchange that takes place?

Countries I’ve Visited

Algeria, Andorra, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Egypt, France, Jordan, Mozambique, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom

Old School Badges

  • 1 Vouch
  • Pioneer Badge

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