‘I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you - nobody - too?
Then there's pair of us!
don't tell. they'd advertise - you know.'
Emily Dickensen.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Servas (servas.org), the mother of all Couch Surfing type networks ushered me to the idea of growth through sharing at an early stage. Since then, I'm hooked. That deep dark desire in me to learn your whareabouts, the setting which shaped your psyche and then to contemplate how similar we are and finally to lend an ear to your joys and grievances are the next fix! So Pakistan, hopefully, is no longer the keliedescopic images of media maniplated, gut-wrenching stories of feuds and wanton violence! But a host of strangers whose friendship permeates already before an embrace.
Your presence in my life, be it may ephemeral or long lasting, is an affirmation of the kinship beyond borders I'm seeking.
Hence I surf. Pray get in touch.
Let's take a walk in the woods.
And listen to real twitter.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Rome, stayed one night. Enrico made me reflect my own practice of hospitality for he was so large hearted to come all the wat to Roma Termini, the sation me recieve me, something I have never done to make my guests' arrival silk smooth.
Thanks Ernrico.

Have been on a CS whatsupp chat group for Islamabad. The sheer enrgy is electrying. Already, my frantically short stay in Islamabad is brimming with advernture, thanks to CSers like, Fatima Shah, Wasim and Hafiz. Sorry, guys, it's not just trhe weather, we don't take care of strangers like that, here here in the Arctic North. we need at least a week to make an appointment to have coffee with our ouw friends.
Sad!!

Interests

Procelatysing Queer Theory.
Will explain all that cerebral mambo-jumbo when I have a drink with you. One thing you won’t complain is that my being laconic!

Why are you going to Uzbekistan ?'
and now to that god forbidding Pakistan??
was a recent question I was asked by several mortals, with the same sense of bewildered expression as if I said 'I voted for Brexit'. Venturing into unchartered territory, knowing what has in store for me has given me a sort of religious faith; hence I continue to pursue those paths almost with devotion.
Now cut the crap, 'how was Amenia?' Most would like to hear that it was terrible because of their own fear and cowardice. When I thrive saying it was the best week, some cringe in disappointment.
After reading, cooking takes good chunk of time. Sharing what I prepare over a glass of Boujoulais brings me immense joy. Cheers!

Music, Movies, and Books

You have to pay me to give you an updated list for what I do for a living is to recommend my favourite texts:)
Seriously, the list is interminable; I'm sure you will agree. I hate to impose.

Right now, I teach
ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS. My students weep n feel ecstatic about their outpouring empathy. The Swimming Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst is another tome which makes me swoon on pleasure. And goosebumps-creating Arundathi Roy's THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS! She keeps up with her literary promise from thirty years ago with her non-fiction.

How about Daniyal Mueennuddin's In Other Rooms, Other Wonders which is the catalyst for my rip to Pakistan.
.Try MILK N HONEY by Rupi Kaur.
or TIME IS MOTHER, latest collection of poetry by Ocean Vuong.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Inspiring my students to be 'crap detectors',
a term I base my teaching on, when reading literature. and making them realise that Antonio in Merchant of Venice is GAY! And Portia, .. don t get me started on this gender fluid crap. The Renaissance souls have always been sexually liberated, way before politically correct terms came to box and incarcerate people.

And you perhaps know about the Molly Houses, in Victorian England where everyone was fucken in one big heap!

And also to make almost all my straight students celebrate the love affair between Molina and Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman by Puig. Pls read it, if you haven t!

You may call me a gay crusader.
I help most closeted souls to knock on their own hearts n holes through literature,
to come out and celebrate who they are, especially guilt-ridden gay kids who think they are to burn in hell. They need much love and affirmation. Not to brag, but I have saved many of them, especially during my stay as the most openly gay teacher in a conservative place like Bosnia.

Teach, Learn, Share

Funny, to comment on this for teaching is what brings bread to my table. English Literature is my forte ; I've been working at an IB school in Oslo nearly twenty years. And still feel every day as a new day. Imagine trying to convince Stanley, the masculine brute in A Street Car Named Deesire is a closet queen to students from Kysgyzstan whose world is so pure and ignorant,
that they still think that being gay is curable!

I love controversy found in the written word. I cling to each one of them, making my students see the secret world they unfold, when they are open minded and see the world in a critical eye. Then comes my own growth from what I learn from them. Not to sound evangelical American,
I feel blessed!

What I Can Share with Hosts

If I say, 'love', I'm sure you'll be put off by the cliche. and its inate banality.
If I say, 'love for adventure', you may think it's too commonplace. For sure, seeking the unknown and taking refuge in a complete stranger's company, perhaps his home marks the beginning of an adventure.
Then it all boils down to narcissisictic response, 'Me'!

I can guarantee you that my commitment in sharing 'me', the inodinate passion I have to celibrate life, its joyous narratives, especailly over a glass of wine or plodding along the fluorescent hued autumnal woods or simply looking out of a window pain, watching world go by won't disappoint you.
Simply the idea of that tactile contact energises me.

If time permits, I can have you at home where I love churning out fusion dishes whose origins are resonant with mine, Sri Lankan but the flavour are wholly baflling. And that's me a nutshell.
In fact, there's a technical term for my sort, in Post Colonial Theory: ABCD. (Anglo- American Born Confused Desi) Try and work that out!

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, England, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States