I get restless if I am in one place for too long. That's part of why I became a teacher. I enjoy working with kids and there are kids all over the world that need teaching. seemed like a good fit.

I've been to a few different countries, and lived in a few too. I like to think that you can only really know a culture by living in it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I figure the most authentic way to learn about a culture is to live with it's people. That's why I prefer this to hotels or hostels.

Interests

I'm kinda curious about most things. I love a good story, and it can be told through any medium; film, theater, gaming, music, spoken around campfire or across the bar over a beer.

I'm a little bit physical. I don't mind having a drink in the evening, but I would be just as happy being exhausted because I've been training, or hiking all day. By training I mean martial arts training. I have a background in Taekwondo, but I've done a fair bit of grappling, some Chinese stuff and at the moment I'm learning Muay Thai while I'm in Thailand.

I like working with kids, so I became a teacher. Previous to finishing my degree, I had been working as a swimming instructor and a coach, as well as helping out a whichever martial arts club I was with at the time. I've also been involved in working with a lot of special needs kids, particularly those with autism.

Not sure what else there is to say here, but that is a little about me anyway.

• arts
• writing
• theater
• beer
• coach
• instructor
• drinking
• anime
• music
• hiking
• martial arts
• swimming
• teaching
• history
• adventure travel
• budget travel
• reading books

Music, Movies, and Books

I really enjoy anime film, particularly stuff from studio ghibli and the stuff from Mamoru Hosoda. Another favourite film is Empire Records.

I like rock music. I listen to a lot of The Gaslight Anthem at the moment.

I'll read just about anything. Recent reads include fantasy (The Wheel Of Time), sci-fi (snowcrash) and some historical fictions (Hornblower, The Children of the New Forest).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

For my trip to Vietnam I joined a cycling tour starting in Hanoi and ending in Ho Chi Minh City. There is about a 1000Km between the two and we cycled about two thirds of that.

I'm not particularly unfit or lazy, but I hadn't ridden a push bike in years. I felt just about every muscle in my body for the first couple of days, and then it got easier... as easy as it can be cycling through Vietnamese mountains in 40degree heat (Celsius).

Still getting from one end of Vietnam to the other, mostly with the power of my own body, was a pretty special thing for me.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm happy to share a story and a meal with hosts.

I love to tell and hear a good story, and to listen and learn about people and the lives they lead. I'm happy to cook few meals and clean up after them.

I can teach a little self-defense if you're interested.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, China, France, Italy, Laos, Lesotho, New Zealand, Spain, Swaziland, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Africa, Thailand