I'm British, 30 years old and live with my girlfriend in Barcelona. I am a researcher specialising in the history of conflict journalism, the Cold War and the United States. I travel a lot between Spain and the US. Recently, I've been visiting Central Asia (Kazakhstan!) for work.

While I was born in London, I grew up in a sleepy rural English town called Buckingham and have tried to travel as much as I can both in the UK and abroad. I love talking to new people and learning about different perspectives to my own. I'm generally up for any new experiences as long as I get some sleep at the end of it.

Curiosity is definitely the most important thing to me!

PHILOSOPHY

Having spent three years studying Philsophy I can't say I'm really any the wiser in this department (although I'm sure I could talk about it forever). I want to experience as much as I can of life and the world while I still have the freedom to do it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've done a fair amount of surfing but never had the opportunity to offer a flat of my own for hosting. I really hope I can repay the debts one day soon!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've couchsurfed many times in the US as well as a few times in Greece and Spain. I've been very lucky and met some great people on all the trips. My first ever host drove us halfway across New England for a fantastic Independence Day weekend in Philadelphia with a fellow CSer. In Greece I joined my host's family for Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations. They are the kind of experiences you can get no other way.

Interests

I love music. I try to get to a gig several times a month (usually alt rock, electronic or folk) and it's close to my favourite way of spending time. Otherwise, I really love anything that challenges me and makes me think differently about the world so movies, books, art, museums, travelling, meeting new people and baking (the world is definitely better after cake)!

• arts
• books
• baking
• movies
• traveling
• music
• surfing

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: My taste veers wildly between high and low brow but I generally dislike pretentiousness and love intricate or intriguing stories which are open to different interpretations. I always have a bunch of films I want to go see at the cinema so I'd be very pleased to find someone who shares the passion!

Music: I love live music and have lots and lots of favourite bands. Arcade Fire, the National and Daft Punk are at the top of my last.fm but recently I've been listening to a lot of funky Afrobeat, minimalist electronica (Moderat/Nils Frahm/Jon Hopkins) and ambient mixes on soundcloud.

Books: I spend a lot of my time reading non-fiction of all kinds but almost none of it can rival the emotional power of a novel. As a child I obsessively read classic science fiction including KSR's Mars Trilogy, Childhood's End, the Forever War and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. More recently I've loved The Master and Margarita, The Last 100 Days, The Road, Revolutionary Road and 100 Years of Solitude.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I ate five crackers in a minute. And they said it couldn't be done...

Teach, Learn, Share

There is a killing to be made in selling toilet roll in Egyptian airports.

Carrots used to be purple.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Spain, United Kingdom, United States