CURRENT MISSION

Travel the world to meet new people and share experiences; live my life to the fullest!

ABOUT ME

A lot of details on who I am but I figure that our profiles is the only way to know who you're really dealing with so the more the better, right? Thank you for taking the time to read my profile.

So: I was born from an African father (from Burkina Faso in West Africa) and a French mother (from Marseille).
My Dad was a diplomat and I grew up in New York and Ottawa before going back to Burkina at the age of 12.

Left home to study in Paris in Hotel Management and after I graduated I decided to go back to Canada, particularly because I missed the winter ...

I realize how privileged I am to have had such an upbringing and depending on the mood, the moment or the company, I can be French, African, American, Canadian or Quebecer, or everything alltogether! It's a fantastic asset to have the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and I'm grateful I'm able to be comfortable with people from anywhere and adapt to whatever the environment is. Being able to accept - and understand - the differences between people and what makes everyone so special and unique.

I'm fortunate to feel at home on 3 different continents but I dream of broadening my cultural experience by visiting/living in places far away from my usual perspectives. I'm already spoiled but I want to discover and experience more.

I have worked for a couple of years in the hotel industry but then decided that life was too short and that it was time for me to fully pursue my passion for skiing.

So I quit everything to become a full time ski instructor (not just Africa's biggest ski bum!) and realize my dream of an endless winter by following the snow and alterning seasons in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Quite unusual for an African you might think... my parents probably think I'm crazy (or let's say original?).

I love my job and I discovered that it's not just about skiing, but I have a true passion for teaching as well. A great way to share my passion with others.

PHILOSOPHY

People who think something cannot be done should not interrupt me doing it... don't go where the path may lead, go instead where there's no path and leave a trail.

The world stands aside to let pass people who know where they are going. Live your dreams!

And my favorite quote, from Nelson Mandela, says it all:

''If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.''

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Provide a great couch in Montreal when I'm home, show you around to make the most depending on your interests, share my experience of the city, the province, the country, my travels...

Be as good as a guest can be when I'm travelling (and if possible exceed my hosts expectations) and learn more about them, their culture, their passion.

To me CSing is all about sharing and understanding each other, and respect is extremely important.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My parents were born couch surfers (!), and being diplomats living in an international environment, I grew up seeing so many people from everywhere visiting and staying at our place, you become addicted. So I continue the tradition of keeping my home opened to visitors and I also have had the chance of staying at people's places all around the world. Los amigos de nos amigos son nos amigos! CS is a brilliant idea!!!

Interests

Anything outdoors (love that Mother Nature is actually my office and not just my back yard), meeting new people, travelling, food and wine. Good food and good wine, and always curious of discovering in that area.
I'm curious about anything really, there's so much to discover that I truly believe that any occasion of meeting someone, doing something, going somewhere different is an opportunity to learn and grow.

• culture
• folklore
• environment
• dining
• wine
• instructor
• traveling
• guitar
• piano
• drums
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• sailing
• skiing
• snowboarding
• telemark skiing

Music, Movies, and Books

Any kind of music (World, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Disco, Funky etc...) depending on the mood and the moment.

Currently reading "You haven't taught until they have learned" from Sven Nater, which I truly recommend to anyone who wants to help people (your children, students, athletes etc) be the best they can be.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Skiing la Vallée Blanche in Chamonix under the spectacular scenery of the Mont Blanc range.

Camel back riding in the Sahara desert in northern Burkina Faso watching a dark black ink sky full of bright stars. Breathtaking!

Skiing Hokkaido powder in Japan. Exhilarating!

Teach, Learn, Share

I like meeting locals and sharing travel tales with fellow travellers.

I will also be glad to share my passion for skiing, snowboarding or telemark skiing.

I'd love to learn kitesurfing.

Tried jembe (african drum), taiko (japanese drum), loved it! I also would like to play the piano, the guitar, and the drums. Maybe when I retire (and/or settle down?) and have enough time to practice every day... hopefully before that!

I really enjoy Tai Chi, movement in motion for the mind and the body.

I like motorbikes and dream of crossing the United States on a BMW R1200GS; of going across Canada from coast to coast by bike; of driving a 4X4 across the Sahara to somewhere on the West African Coast; of doing a tour of all the ski resorts, small and big, around the world; of sailing the islands in the West Indies and also French Polynesia; of taking the Trans-Siberian train ... the list is endless!

Life is too short!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cuba, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Monaco, Spain, Switzerland, Togo, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Burkina Faso, Canada, France, Japan, Togo, United States

• 

•