CURRENT MISSION

Enjoy life

PHILOSOPHY

People are good.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am currently taking a break from Couchsurfing (we have been refurbishing a house for the last few years and no one likes sleeping in dust) but have hosted, couchsurfed, greeted and been a keen forum participant in the past.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have been hosted about 25 times so far, while doing a year long trip, and I met lots of people just travelling around. Most of our hosts are now friends, and a few of them definitely changed my way of seeing the world.
I have hosted fairly regularly when I had space and time, and it always was a pleasure. I hope I can repay a little of all the fantastic times CS gave me.

Interests

People art nature books birds films theatre languages colours materials textures plants geography science art drawing etching print making ceramics photography dance singing looking at things grow... There is no end to this.

• birds
• arts
• books
• singing
• architecture
• photography
• beauty
• dancing
• movies
• traveling
• pottery
• drawing
• origami
• geography
• languages
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

I am an avid reader, oscillating between SciFi, factual and general literature.
favourite books: Young men and Fire by Norman Maclean, Earth abides by George R. Stewart, most of Iain M Banks' work, What I loved by Siri Hustvedt
By favourite I mean things that "changed my life", somehow.
Music is part of my life, but less so now than it has been. I blame years lived without a stereo. Still, there is PJ Harvey, Eels, Noir Desir, Francoiz Breut, Dominique A, Camane, Ella Fitzgerald, Jacques Brel, Beck, Bonnie Prince Billy, Antony and the Johnsons, Portishead, the Be Good Tanias, Iron and Wine, Nina Simone
As for films, we do go to the cinema a lot, and I am a good audience. "Recent" discoveries have been Another Earth, Slow West, Shame.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I am not sure I have done anything amazing. I have, however, seen extraordinary beauty:
- The top of Stromboli in Italy... an island of a volcano: at sunset, the earth is curving around you in hues of pink and blue, while roaring and spitting jets of liquid red hot rock tens of meters up...
- Northern Lights in Norway, I am still in awe
- Phosphorescence in Japan and on the West coast of Ireland

Teach, Learn, Share

I can talk about differences between cultures.
I can talk about travelling and what effects it has on you an what's around you.
I can teach you how to make a bechamel, a quiche or lasagna.
I can talk about architecture, although I'd rather not.
I can show you how to use a sewing machine and how to make origami cranes.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Hopefully good conversation.

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom

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