CURRENT MISSION

Figuring out what else can be packed into this life.

ABOUT ME

I love to try out and learn new things, both at work and in private. I'm generally easily amazed by many things (including people, machines, critical cultural theories, mudskippers, noises and sounds, fresh food and the sight of birds hopping over the grass). And I tend to enjoy most things I do, which is good as I'm really bad at doing things I don't enjoy.

PHILOSOPHY

1. To meet new things with an open mind. 2. To respect all things and people, and animals in particular.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've hosted and surfed quite a bit in my time, and can't wait to continue once I've got some room for guests (and/or time to travel) again.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

To be honest, I can't recall a single couchsurfing experience that wasn't either pleasant or just downright wonderful in some way. Being able to help people out - and being able to depend on people when you're out and about - has always been an amazing experience.

Interests

Since moving to London, even though I love living in the city, I've started to develop a super keen interest in anything nature related. From BBC nature programs to DiY bird watching tours to volunteering in wildlife restoration projects to books about keeping pigs or foraging in the wild - it's what really fills up my batteries.

Apart from that, two more things: Music (www.last.fm/user/minkaotic for inspection) and learning new things. After finishing my current MA in Japanese Cultural Studies, the next things I want to learn are programming and Korean :D.

• animals
• wildlife
• birds
• books
• diy
• dining
• cooking
• traveling
• restoration
• music
• cultural studies
• volunteering
• tours

Music, Movies, and Books

If we're talking contemporary books, Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore" is definitely way up there in my favourites, along with Banana Yoshimoto's "NP". In more of a historical perspective, Carson McCullers might be my favourite, especially her "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter".

I never watch films much as I can't stand to sit down and 'do nothing' for too long, but films I remember very fondly include: Morvern Callar, 8 1/2, A Bout De Souffle, Closer, Ghost World, Darjeeling Ltd., I ♥ Huckabees, Wings of Desire and Almodovar's High Heels.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My 3 month trip to Japan in summer 2007. For sure one of the sweetest and most impressing times in my life, and an agglomeration of easily the best couchsurfing experiences imaginable!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd love to show you some of my favourite 'small' places in London, do some language learning swap (I can throw German in the mix! Would love some practice in Japanese and some introduction to Korean), cook for you and be cooked for.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Japan, Kenya, Poland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom

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