Hey :) I'm a friendly, cheerful fellow who likes good laughs and deep chats.

Love meeting new people and exploring my hometown of London. I am guilty of being a bit of a maximiser - I get my Time Out magazine and look out for great new things to do all the time. I try and make the most of living in a city with a thriving art, theatre, food and drink scene. I cycle everywhere! I miss great open expanse a bit living in London, but get out and about as much as I can.

I have been a teacher for 3 years, teaching history and politics at a school in greater (south west) London, and am starting a new job with the civil service in September. I love to talk history, politics, psychology, behavioural economics and sociology and the like if I meet someone also interested in these things.

I have been told I'm a good listener - especially after my counselling course, I think of listening as an active, not a passive thing. I learn a lot and hope to have great fulfilling conversations. I 'read' a lot to educate and improve myself, usually via audiobook so I can run/cycle at the same time.

Hobbies & interests -
Music of most kinds; Modern Art; Theatre; Good beer, delicious food.
Football, Tennis, Squash, Swimming, long walks, cycling
Travel
Books

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To host, to see through eyes of a local and to meet people :)

I am on a trip from New York to New Orleans via Chicago at the moment. I want to meet real local Americans to get a proper insight into the life and culture there.

That answer doesn't seem enough so I googled great travel quotes.

"A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles" Tim Cahill
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert
“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin
“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

Interests

Love long distance cycle trips…

• performing arts
• street art
• music festivals
• chinese food
• indian food
• beer
• mexican food
• walking
• politics
• music
• live music
• electronic music
• jazz
• cycling
• skiing
• tennis
• swimming
• table tennis
• history
• public policy
• squash
• travel
• football
• personal development
• theatre
• craft beer

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: A whole variety.... http://open.spotify.com/user/1184135811
I like electo to dance to, indie to cycle to and jazz to chill to and many more...

Movies: Ground Hog Day; Waking Life; Notting Hill

Books:
A Renegade History of the United States by Thaddeus Russell
Wired for Culture by Mark Pagel
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton
Burmese Days/1984 by George Orwell
The Establishment by Owen Jones
The Rich by John Kampfner
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Travelled for five and a half months round India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Nairobi-Cape Town, Rio-Quito.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I will cook for you, or take you out for dinner, as you prefer :)

I would love if you were free to hang out, but if not, would love it if you pointed me in the direction of your favourite places.

I am considerate, thoughtful and keen to meet some authentic Americans! I’m incredibly flexible – just grateful to meet new people and have a place to stay.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Malawi, Malaysia, Namibia, Paraguay, Peru, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, United States, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Scotland