CURRENT MISSION

If you don't live your dreams, you are only sleeping

ABOUT ME

I'm currently living in Manila on a placement organised through Engineers Without Borders. I don't think "you are what you do" applies to most people but I do think this situation says a lot about me.

I will try pretty much anything once.

PHILOSOPHY

life is short - party naked!

I'm an optimist, but my glass is half empty. Thats because by the time I'm done I'm gonna have a full glass.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I go to a lot of the couchsurfing meet ups in Manila, it's a great way to meet people! I've hosted a few people too and shown a few guys around where I live also.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first CS experience was with Charlotte in Reading, when I tried to show her the Uni and got completely lost, but had a really good day nonetheless!

When I went to Vietnam things really kicked off, straight from the airport I was invited to Natashas birthday party, and supplied the stilton fresh from the UK, although it hadnt travelled that well! Stayed for a week in Nha Trang hanging with Gab, Lisa, Sy, Jada, Rebekkah, Travis, lots of people, and lots of bia hoi!

I had an amazing non CS surfing in Kuala Lumpur, when I just got chatting to a guy named Sila in the airport. I mentioned I would be coming back that way in a few weeks, and he immediately offered me the chance to stay with him for the night! I accepted and when I returned he took care of me as if I were one of his family! Simply one of the nicest things anybody has ever done for me!

One of the best weekends of my life was in November 2009, when my friend Jack and I made our way to Turkey on a charity jailbreak (travelling as far as possible for free). Ozgur in Antalya responded to an emergency couch request, and more than sorted us out! He showed us the sights, took us out for a Butun Ekmek, and got in touch with some friends who put us up for the night! Then much to our amazement, while Jack and I slept in in the morning, they prepared what can only be described one of the best breakfasts ever. By now it was Tuesday, and we had to blag free flights back to the UK so we could continue with our degrees, but the kindness of Ozgur, Kahraman et al will stay with me forever!

Interests

I'm a rugby player, a bad guitarist, a terrible singer (not that it stops me), a reader, a thinker, an experimenter, a builder, a climber, a hiker, a cyclist, a linguist, a swimmer, a charity worker, a salesman, an engineer, a tennis player, a dreamer, a humanitarian, an idealist.

• wine
• partying
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• hiking
• surfing
• soccer
• tennis
• rugby
• swimming
• engineering
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies - I'll watch most things, really really enjoyed the new Batman, but my favourite film is "Man on Wire" - purely for the line "If I die, what a beautiful death!". I can get behind that - life is there so you can accomplish your dreams.

Music - most things, just nothing too heavy.

Books - I'm working my way through the classics so I can be a literary snob when I'm older. If I had to recommend one - I'd say Pale Fire by Nabokov. Also Engineering in Emergencies.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Playing football with some children in the sand while the sun set in Namibia.

I rode a 35year old 50cc honda super cub (motorbike)around Laos for a month! Her name was Lolita.... and she only cost $150. She was the most beautiful thing ive ever seen. I miss her so much...

Volunteered at a puma sanctuary for a month - and I've got the scars to prove it!

Visiting and working in a number of rural Philipino villages. Particularly those affected by typhoon Haiyan.

Teach, Learn, Share

I will teach you how to rip a phonebook in half. With the rise of internet this is becoming less and less impressive as phonebooks get smaller, so I'll have to find a new skill!

I want to learn languages fluently. First French, then Spanish, then Arabic. Then maybe Italian.

We'll share wine. Or sprite if you're tee total.

What I Can Share with Hosts

We'll have fun.

Countries I’ve Visited

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, England, Philippines, Wales