CURRENT MISSION

In the UK for a masters program, with random trips throughout Europe.

ABOUT ME

I'm currently in the UK for two years working on a Masters degree. But before this, I spent a bit of time in Central Asia, wandering all over the USA, living in New York, and doing NGO work in Africa. And after this, it seems fairly likely that I will end up in the Middle East for a while. Yay modern semi-nomadism!

I'll probably get sucked back into working for NGOs at some point--I'm a bit of an NGO skeptic but part of what I do with NGOs is try to make sure that they work efficiently and in partnerships with each other. I'm rambling a bit, but ask me more and I'll give you the full rundown of what I've done with NGOs and my thoughts on them!

Back in the States, I studied at Columbia University have been a writer/editor for a number of small publications (hoping to change that to "major publications" within a few years, but we'll see how that goes).

What else is there to say about me? Perhaps I'll be able to answer most of your possible questions in the boxes below. But for now let's say ... I'm a quiet guy for the most part--I like my books and I stick to my writing. Not a huge partier or anything of the sort. But I love a good conversation, especially over an excellent pot of tea. Generally, I love a good conversation about anything--I have my opinions, yes, but I make an honest effort to understand and sympathize with the logic behind the opinions of others. And I love to hear those opinions. There's no other way I'm actually going to learn.

As to what I write about, study, etc. Well ... I'm all over the place, hah. About the only thing I've got no patience for is physics.

Oh, and I have an unhealthy love for paisley shirts. There, now I think you know everything about me.

Really, that's all of it, I swear.

PHILOSOPHY

The middle path. And the benevolent hypocrisy of mankind. I believe we all hold somewhat contradictory opinions that help us to live, and so there's no reason for me to be dogmatic. I just like to sit, listen, and try to understand all that I can. Perhaps I'll help another to understand something from my point of view, but only if invited to do so.

I'll not lie, life's been somewhat unkind to me--I'll not burden anyone with the details. But who cares? I'm relatively optimistic and trusting (within reason).

Pourquoi je suis sur Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Whenever I'm not travelling or knee deep in work, my flat is open to surfers. And whenever I'm travelling, I try to surf.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Started Couchsurfing in Pakistan two years ago and had a great time! Started hosting when I moved to the UK and will keep hosting whenever I've got the time to do so.

Centres d'intérêt

Big movie buff, avid reader, but above all else a lover of tea and long walks. When I travel, I'm usually more interested in meeting the people than seeing all the sites. Everything and anything--just about the only things I'm not interested in are physics and country music.

• arts
• writing
• books
• cooking
• traveling
• music
• country music
• hunting
• cartography
• teaching
• history
• logic
• physics
• religion

Morceaux de musique, films et livres

Music: Currently listening to a lot of David Bowie, Arcade Fire, Andrew Bird, The Cure, Yann Tiersen, Elliott Smith, Beirut, I'm From Barcelona, Sigur Ros, and so on.

Books: I'm a big fan of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Crime and Punishment, Guns, Germs and Steel, The Road, and Slaughterhouse 5, among many, many others.

Movies: Favorite of all time would have to be Chinatown. Generally I love noir, especially when other genres take on the noir characteristics (Ghost in the Shell, for all its faults, is a good example). Anything Stanley Kubrick, Guillermo del Toro, Hayao Miyazaki, Marc Caro, Roman Polanski, and many more.

Une aventure extraordinaire que j'ai vécue

Probably the coolest thing I've ever experience was (perhaps not totally licitly) sneaking down into the tunnels below New York. You see all the graffiti, the art and signs and maps from old and new eras. There are churches buried down there, shrines long forgotten. Entire shooting ranges, collapsing brick tunnels from abandoned insane asylums, relics forgotten by everyone but keeping alive some heart and mind of the city itself long after all its residents have faded and the topside has moved on.

Enseignez, apprenez, partagez

I've been told that spending time with me is just like going to brunch with a thesaurus. I've got a pretty good grasp on the English language, and not to be too proud of myself, but I'm a pretty damn good editor, and not half a bad teacher. If ever you want some writing, speaking, presenting, etc. help, I'm your guy, and always happy to provide it.

My knowledge of history and religion (both exegetic/theological and social/cultural) is pretty well above average, and I've got more than a basic grasp of neuropsychology.

That and I'm not a bad cook--from a Cajun family, after all.

Those few things I'm pretty confident in, but in all other things, all I know is that I know nothing.

I'm interested in learning about everything and anything. Speak and I will listen.

Although as to learning ... well, I'm a clumsy, clumsy man, so I'll probably fail to learn a physical skill if you try to teach me.

Pays que j'ai visités

Azerbaijan, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Netherlands, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan

Pays dans lesquels j'ai vécu

Kenya, United Kingdom, United States