CURRENT MISSION

Survive half a year living and working in Chile. Also travel extensively in Bolivia and Peru.

ABOUT ME

I recently completed a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Otago / University of Edinburgh. I'm originally from New Zealand (Coromandel, North Island), but have lived in many places - all over the States, Costa Rica, Borneo, Thailand, Scotland, Hungary, and now Chile... I am currently working at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and plan on moving to the UK to pursue a Masters next year.

I love music, film and literature, and write about culture for a number of magazines (in particular independent music and film). I'm a keen traveler, and enjoy seeing places that might not be on 'Top 10' Lonely Planet lists. I've seen a lot of the world, and want to see a lot more.

I consider myself an amateur conversationalist, and enjoy long days of walking in new places. I'm chill, clean, friendly, respectful, etc (all the things you want from a couch surfer).

In the words of the inimitable (and insane) St. Augustine: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

PHILOSOPHY

As a student of philosophy this is something I should probably have a good answer to - a short, pithy response that is equal-parts profound and interesting.

I generally stand by the words of Socrates and believe that "The unexamined life is not worth living." So I guess I'll keep examining my life until I figure it all out...

Interests

I read, listen to music, watch a lot of films (A LOT of films - last year I watched 212 films), go to concerts, art galleries, museums...
I like to write about music, and founded my own culture magazine - FONDLE Magazine.

I'm really into walking - and like to explore cities and places by foot. I like to talk about everything from pop culture to politics to moral dilemmas.

I'm very adventurous, and want to see the sides of places that only locals know...

• arts
• culture
• books
• literature
• concerts
• walking
• politics
• movies
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• rock climbing
• economics

Music, Movies, and Books

Let's start with music. Some of my favourite artists, in no particular order: Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Brian Eno, Vampire Weekend, Animal Collective, Sufjan Stevens, The Tallest Man on Earth, Keith Jarrett, Miles Davis...

My favourite films vary wildly depending on my mood. But here are some films that I would bring with me if I was ever imprisoned in a room with a television: The Graduate, Badlands, Rushmore, La Dolce Vita, The Master, Vertigo, The Big Lebowski, Almost Famous, Annie Hall, Office Space, Her... My favourite directors: Wes Anderson, Spike Jonze, Terrence Malick, Alfred Hitchcock, Woody Allen, Federico Fellini, Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson.

I read a lot, and love all kinds of books. I think the most important book ever written is Plato's Republic, and I will happily tell you why if you ever ask. I love Hermann Hesse (The Glass Bead Game had a big impact on me). Vladimir Nabokov is probably my favourite author, and Pale Fire my favourite book. I also like: White Noise, The Beach, Notes from the Underground, The Trial, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, The Corrections, Island, everything by Orwell. I probably don't like Kerouac and the Beats as much as you do...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

How can us travelers choose just one amazing thing? For me it could be hacking my way through the virgin jungles of Borneo, or climbing Volcanoes in Costa Rica, or exploring Mayan ruins in Honduras and Guatemala, or hiking through vineyards in Provence, or sleeping on a park bench overlooking the Corfu harbour...

What I Can Share with Hosts

A dry sense of humour and good taste in music.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Chile, Costa Rica, Hungary, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland, United Kingdom, United States