CURRENT MISSION

to feel I have achieved something useful when I die

ABOUT ME

For my job as an economist and project manager with a UN agency, I travel and live in different parts of the world. These days my main focus is on Africa region, and I have just spent a few months in Ethiopia and Burundi. Aside from doing work for my "official" job, I try to maximize my time in the places I visit / live in, in various ways, e.g. I do travel writing, I love to meet local people and make local friends, to learn about local customs, etc. I am now starting work on a book on cultural and spiritual beliefs in different countries.

PHILOSOPHY

I want to meet different people from different countries and walks of life, and I want to learn. I want to continue to discover myself and to find inner fulfilment, but at the same time I want to feel that I am contributing in some way to this earth.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have made several couch surfer friends, and I have been going to couch surfing meetings and language exchanges in various parts of the world.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I just joined, and would like to meet people through the couch surfing community in the countries I visit.

Interests

international travel; learning about new countries, cultures, philosophies and beliefs; politics and international affairs; history; dancing (especially salsa); partying and going out; dogs and cats (animals in general)

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• writing
• books
• dancing
• partying
• politics
• traveling
• socializing
• surfing
• economics
• history
• language exchange

Music, Movies, and Books

I like a wide range of music, books and movies. For music, recently I have gotten into African music (e.g. from Uganda and Congo). For books, I especially books on history and international affairs. And for movies, I especially like movies based on fact or real historical events.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I recently went with 3 friends to safari in Nairobi, Kenya, and it was really magnificent. Better than anything else I have seen on my travels. I do not even know how to explain it, but for a week, I was mesmerized by everything I saw, it was so wonderful, different and relaxing.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States

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