Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I started using CS when travelling with friends. We were taken in by someone in Zanzibar if we signed up to CS and gave him a good rating. He was an incredible host and staying with him was such a delight and gave us the best experience of the location in which we were staying that continuing to use CS when travelling or to repay kindness by hosting others seemed logical. People say that the best way to learn about a country is through learning a language - and I would agree with that - but I also think that countries are composed of people and their narratives and experiences. In this way I think the best way you can experience is country is actually through getting to know the people that live there and sharing opinions and views. It also helps that if you are travelling to somewhere new there is no substitute for local knowledge of an area and more often than not doing as locals do is the best way to enjoy somewhere. As a host you are also in the fortunate position of trying to show someone new - often in a short time frame - the best of an your locality. The final point I would make about why I am on CS is to do with living in a more connected world than ever before where now cultural exchange and international relations are more important than ever before. From this more pragmatic position CS helps to bring people together in a positive way and allows for greater understanding and tolerance. Of course it requires a degree of trust and savvy about where to stay and under which circumstances but that is what traveling is all about!

Interests

• beer
• technology
• reading
• traveling
• backpacking
• rock climbing
• mountains
• squash
• football
• sunshine

Music, Movies, and Books

Favourite Books > Papillon - Henri Charrière; The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas; Waverley - Walter Scott; The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame; Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M Pirsig; The Hobbit - J R R Tolkien; A Moveable Feast - Ernest Hemingway

Favourite Films > The Time Traveler's Wife; The Bourne Identity; Gigi; Trainspotting; Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels; Snatch; Ocean's Eleven; Gladiator; The Shawshank Redemption; The Godfather; Monty Python and the Holy Grail;

Favourite Rappers > Jurassic 5; De La Soul; A Tribe Called Quest; Gang Starr; Biggie Smalls; 2Pac; Eminem; The Streets; Doc Gynéco

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I just got back this summer from cycling the Cote d'Azur which was an incredible experience, starting in Nice and ending in Toulon. I even found time to go sailing for five days on the way and watch Chris Froome win the Tour de France.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Local knowledge of the area, a single/double bed, drinks and dinner.

Countries I’ve Visited

Afghanistan, Albania, American Samoa, Angola, Aruba, Ethiopia, France, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Åland Islands

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, United Kingdom