I used to seek meaning in academic research on conflict resolution in relation to art, media and public space. I worked and taught at universities and art-centers and developed and coordinated international programs with increasing focus on education through art, and free and open source technology. When my son arrived in 2018 he reactivated my connection with a circle of heart-giving art educators and helped me see what the situationists' meant with their rejection of alienated labour. Since then I have been refocusing my tools and abilities to surround my son and myself with a sense of community and abundance while striving to live in a way thay doesn’t require what Silvia Federici described as “parking our children while we go to work”. My son and I have been learning from the bravest and most meaningful art- and eco-educational initiatives we can find, and we've been holding space and rhythm for free-play with wonderful people around our island. I have come to see meaningful learning as a humble process of connecting with our nature and re-enchanting our world, through delight, wonder, and hands-on care for our surroundings. When I find myself in the role of educator/artist/facilitator, I cherish opportunities to do as little as possible, to become a subtle catalyst or bridge, and to provide others a fundamental kind of support, or what Eve Annecke has described as ‘radical accompaniment’, towards a state of being that explores, shares, connects, and soul-seeks towards freedom.

After setting up a pioneer Waldorf School in Nicosia, an initiative too-easily halted by the pandemic, I’ve been choosing to work towards life and meaningful community, and less in the service of institutions or organisations. I have been coordinating a local parents cooperative and continue my training in Waldorf Pedagogy (since 2019) and Forest School (since 2021).

I enjoy writing, which I usually do with more of a sense of humour than this!

You can learn more about my work with “families in transition” at www.eimaste.net which explains why I’m not really active on couchsurfing, but always hosting people one way or another. For my writing you can check out http://allonan.com and for a directory of my domains and activities you can check out http://neeii.info

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

What a gift this is, to be able to travel beyond the tourist industry.

Interests

• arts
• performing arts
• yoga
• art history
• computer science
• scifi
• travel hacking

Music, Movies, and Books

I love the Sublime Frequencies recordings of pre-digital ambiences, street sounds and songs from around the world.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I managed to free myself of fear, conditioning and institutional pressures just long enough to trust my instinct and my body, and become a portal for another life to come into this world. The conditioning and institutional pressures have since returned, and now I'm facing them, deconstructing them one at a time, and building meaning for me and my child. Part of this amazing thing I've done is putting the cynic in me to rest, so that I can think and talk in terms of journeys of healing, leading out of separation and into connection and community.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am less interested in teaching and more interested in accompanying.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can listen carefully about what hosts may need. I can contribute to the household in whatever way I can. I can help with costs, housework and make sure I leave the place better than I found it. I can cook and bring goodies from my home-country.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Netherlands, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cyprus, Greece, United Kingdom