CURRENT MISSION

Not making any assumptions; instead asking questions.

ABOUT ME

I'm married and have three sons, am old-time conservative but also quite liberal, sometimes a rebel, a man of liberty, justice and fraternity, actually quite antipolitique (after 9/11, I've lost most of what I once had of respect for politicians). I'm a Morris dancer, a contra dancer, and working on my waltz frame. I was once a keen chess player but stopped playing at age 18, realizing life had so much else to offer. Actually, in 2007, spontaneously wanted to play Bobby Fisher during a stopover at Iceland, but Bobby sadly passed away which closed that chapter of a dream I had. I'm tall (6foot3)with no overweight; a daily jogger and a weekly hiker; an avid ice/roller blade skater. Languages are my life but my life is not only languages. It's about meeting people, speaking back to them in their own tongue (far from being perfect but anyway), dialogues, exchanging thoughts on life, journeys (life's a journey not only in Geography; in books and other discoveries as well).
I sing and play the guitar amateurishly. I once spoke Russian quite well and have my B.A. major in Russian language and literature. I mainly eat vegetarian but am no fanatic of any kind. I don't smoke, seldom or never drink hard liqor. I love red wine though and an occasional beer. I'm a believer in a Creator of it all, am Christian by culture but not by faith; thus, basically an agnostic although still quite spiritual. I believe in small and big miracles of which life is its own big manifestation. Did I mention I'm American but also Swedish by birth and at heart.

PHILOSOPHY

I live to do my best so as not to regret anything later on.
I try to never say never because Never is such a long time

I love the Swedish proverb:
Shared sorrow is half the sorrow.
Shared joy is double joy.

One can choose to be right or to have a relationship/marriage.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Received CS-surfers and other visitors to my home. Went on my first CS experience as a guest in July of 2011, one week in Copenhagen, Denmark. I had a great time in Scandinavia incl. as a couchsurfer.

Interests

Languages such as Mandarin, Dutch, and Esperanto, among others.
Music, Hikes, Soccer, Health, Philosophy
Favorite flower: (several) pionese, cleome
Favorite tree: sequoia sempervirens, ginkgo biloba
Favorite bird: tufted titmouse & northern cardinal (both fantastic whistlers)
Favorite region: Skaane (southern tip of Sweden)

• culture
• books
• literature
• singing
• dancing
• waltz
• wine
• red wine
• beer
• vegetarian
• drinking
• flowers
• chess
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• fishing
• hiking
• soccer
• world cup
• geography
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Stieg Larsson's Trilogy, movie and books.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Given a lecture in Polish on Swedish literature before a large audience in Bialystok, Poland (1978).
Been on a flight Detroit-NYC-Holland-Copenhagen without a ticket to show, in 1984 (the air fare was paid though).
Attended the soccer world cup final 1958 in Stockholm, Sweden, as a 10-year old, falling in love with Brazilian soccer, for ever (!), their first Copa Mundial.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm about to join Translators without borders, with the goal to help those in dire need of regaining freedom and combatting injustice.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Denmark, France, Iceland, India, Nicaragua, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Poland, Sweden, United States

•