CURRENT MISSION

Being a bureaucrat without becoming a bore. Action needed.

ABOUT ME

NB: Moving from Brussels to Oslo Wednesday 14 Feb. From Monday 19 Feb I'll have an avialble couch in Oslo.

I'm pretty new to CS. My first surfer, Ota, told me I should share how I joined. I think it could serve well as a personal description as well:I'm a bureucrat. That is why I'm temporarily in Brussels (I move back to Oslo in March 12).I was to do an evaluation. There was a big programme, and big programmes should be evaluated. The programme had been running since October, would continue to early January. This was early December. So I made work flow timeline, suggesting to the hierarchy that I could present full draft medio January, fully verified and publishable medio February."Fine," said The Hierarchy, "but we'll have a strategic discussion on next years programme in a few weeks, so we need a full draft on Tuesday." This was Thursday afternoon."You are kidding," I said, "Background data are not available, the programme is still running, and it is difficult to write a report on a programme I first learned of last week - in two working days.""Hm?" said The Hierarchy.So I wrote the report. I worked day and night, interviewing more people than I care to count, drinking more liters of coffee than most people think possible, writing my way through even smoking breaks. The resulting report was surprisingly pleasant to look at."Is that a report?" said a hitherto unknown but seemingly decisive limb of The Hierarchy Tuesday. "How can you justify this kind of report? Data is insufficient, and the programme is still running. I'll just make a quick powerpoint, listing the questions I think top management need to consider."I said: "Are you serious? We trash it?"The Limb said: "Hm?"I thought: "Fuck."I went back to my office, and thought: "Wow - that is just incredibly fucked up." I went to see a more familiar region of The Hierarchy, who said: "Yeah, we heard. Fucked up, huh?"So I went home, and I thought "Is this my life? This is my life," and then "Fuck... I need to make some life adjustments here.""I think there was something called couchsurfing."So here I am. My couch is available, be my guest. That's a start.Take care.Cheers, Jon.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

While in Brussels, mainly hosting. Surely I'll get up and moving soon.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None yet

Interests

Motorcycle trips around the Belgian countryside (if you have the gear, come along), concerts and parties, or just staying home reading.

• writing
• concerts
• coffee
• running
• partying
• drinking
• reading

Music, Movies, and Books

Tom Waits
Pixies
Ane Brun
The Band
White Stripes
Belle and Sebastien
Neil Young
Pink Floyd

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Egypt, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Mongolia, Norway, Russian Federation, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Belgium, Norway, United States