Hello! I'm John, and I'm a teacher in Bilbao, the biggest city in the Basque Country in the north of Spain.

I'm from Southampton, United Kingdom but I've lived in Bilbao for the last five years. I spent last summer exploring Eastern Europe during which time I volunteered in Ukraine for two weeks. This summer I'm going a little off the beaten track to Central Asia, starting in Kazakhstan.

When it comes to travelling, I enjoy simply wandering around a new place and taking in the sights and sounds. I'm also a big fan of checking out the local cuisine and with a bit of research I'm always able to discover the most delicious and affordable spots. Even in New York, I tried food in over 30 different establishments in the space of 10 days.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I joined Couchsurfing after my flatmate recommended it to me, who has been using it for quite some time. I enjoy meeting both travellers and locals, and I've had some truly memorable experiences hosting and staying with fellow Couchsurfers. It's simply a great way to gain an authentic insight into a place and to meet and learn from new people.

Interests

• reading
• music
• hiking
• geography
• food
• football

Music, Movies, and Books

My two favourite films are Aliens and Terminator 2.

I'm into all types of music, however I currently listen to a lot of electronic, such as Maya Jane Coles, Bicep, Jon Hopkins, Nina Kraviz and Jamie xx, as well as hip hop.

I enjoy reading, particularly nonfiction books and current affairs from different news sources. I just love reading about the world. Some of my most recent interesting reads include Educated, Nothing to Envy, Factfulness and Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

While I was in Madagascar I fed an indri, one of the largest species of lemur, after my local guide had lured him down a tree with some leaves handy.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love meeting people from across the world because I always find there's something to talk about and create a connection. I enjoy showing people around Bilbao and what's kept me here for so long. An expat's view of a city is also another interesting way to discover a new place.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Italy, Spain, Wales