Hey I'm Mark,

A few trips to Germany where I have been lucky enough to stay with locals have wet my appetite to travel and think what better way to do it than to actually stay with the people who actually live in those countries rather than in a sheltered hotel.

After growing up in a very closed mind space, and releasing life like this is very small and insular I am trying to make space to learn from as many different cultures and the people that make them up as possible.

I am feeling very lost in the UK so I am embarking on a cliche trip to "find myself" 😉😜.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

After staying at the friend of a friends house while travelling in Germany, I realised that hotels are such a sheltered way of expierencing places, so I want to be able to embrace the cultures I go to fully by spending time with the people who are actually living in the places already!! That way you can really get the feel of a place and get to know its personality rather than just what attractions are there.

Interests

I am passionate about cycling, running and just getting out in the outdoors, also love reading like reading anything from philosophy books to a good novel also appreciate a good movie that makes you think and challenges any of your pre-conceptions about things or people as I think it is healthy to be able to allow things into your life that are different to the ways you think as it can help to expand your mind and also make more clear, thoughts that you have already about the world.

I also really love finding out about new cultures, the place where I used to work hosted volunteers from various different countries, and it was fasinating to speak with them and about thier lives, outlook on the world and appreciate difference and Id like to carry on encountering different cultures as much as possible as I think it is healthy to get out of your own sense of normal for a time.

• reading
• traveling
• deep conversations
• wild camping
• discovering new places
• indoor climbing
• road cycling
• downhill mountain biking
• abseiling
• hiking in the mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Really big Ben Howard, and London Grammar fan but I'll listen to anything again recently found a place for drum and bass which i didnt use to get at all

I am a big movie fan and like everything except Chick flicks (sorry Notebook fans)! Particularly ones that have some good quotes to chew on and help you re-examine your thoughts about the world.

Always looking for a new book to read some I am open to suggestions currently reading "A New Normal" which to be honest is just hacking me off as I feel that I have been getting called "detached from reality" for saying much of the things contained in that book.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Cycled across Britain in 2021 (Lands End to John O'Groats)

Running achievements got my first sub 20 in 2021, first sub 40 in 2024, trying for a sub 3 marathon but i feel that could be the hardest of the lot I am very much a relative novice in running (currently sub 3:19) but like I say "you go NO FURTHER for GOING FASTER" so just appreciate the privilege of being active.

Teach, Learn, Share

I also am keen to learn a different language and have been learning Spanish on Duolingo and a couple of random German sayings ask me about them if we do meet 😉. It would be great to be able to put into practice what I have learnt and get some help where I am going wrong. I am happy to return the favour with English, or anything else!! Perhaps we could share thoughts about the world and the reason why we are here or things and expierences' that we have had that have really opened our minds up to things we had not thought about before!! I always find discussions about this fascinating and have learnt many things from many people from many different countries in this respect.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Switzerland