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Overview
About Me
Hello, if you're reading this hopefully we will be able to meet each other soon, looking forward to it! So you'd probably like to learn a bit more about me. I grew up in a small village in the middle of England. It was a small place and I always wanted to travel and go beyond the comfortable but limited life available there. It started with trains to London and then grew into travelling around the world to the USA, Thailand and Iran. Since then I've visited something like 30 countries all over the world. As you'll see I started my couchsurfing journey 14 years ago.
As well as my day job I'm an artist and I work with technology to think about who we are and how we relate to others. I'm interested in the connection between us and how it's mediated by networks. I use code as a medium to explore these themes.
Travel for me is all about people. There are some lovely landscapes and pretty sunsets out there. But nothing beats understanding how people live, being apart from my own culture and seeing how things work elsewhere whether that's better or worse than at home. Travelling gives me a perspective on my own life as well when I return home, I see what I'm doing in a new light. Most of all it's just fun to go from one place to another. I had stayed in the same place for a while but being locked down has given me a restless spirit to move around as much as possible. 100 years ago to go halfway across the world was nothing but a dream. 10 years ago to do that while having a job was equally crazy.
These days thanks to the climate crisis I travel by train as much as I can. It's not too much of a sacrifice as I have always loved being on trains and Europe has the best network in the world!
Fully vaccinated 💉💉💉
Why I’m on Couchsurfing
Because I travel alone I like to meet people. I'm not too excited by seeing random statues and old buildings. I'd much rather get a picture of what local life is like whether that's sharing a beer and experiencing the nightlife or going shopping and taking the metro. Previous couchsurfers have been very kind to me, sharing not just their home but their time and their social life with me, really welcoming me into their life. I've done my best to repay that favour granted to me when I've had space (sometimes living in London I haven't even had room for a mattress on the floor!). I've heard things that couchsurfing is not the same as it was when I was last on it, I really hope that's not true and the essential spirit has remained!
Interests
- arts
- technology
- movies
- reading
- traveling
- music
- cycling
- trains
Music, Movies, and Books
One of the privileges of getting older is that I don't have to pretend to be into stuff to look interesting or sophisticated, I can be honest about what I really like! I like pop music like Taylor Swift, though I do also enjoy electronic music from the 80s, particularly Kraftwerk. I like to read and watch science fiction, it's always exciting to visit new worlds in my mind.
One Amazing Thing I’ve Done
I went to Iran just because I asked myself the question "where would most people probably not go?". In spite of this random choice it turned out to be the most wonderful place in the world. The people there are incredibly friendly and generous with their hospitality and I never went a night without being offered a bed and a meal by a stranger.
Teach, Learn, Share
If you like I'm happy to advise you on a career path in software or teach a little basic coding.
Countries I’ve Visited
Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Iran, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland, United States, Viet Nam
Countries I’ve Lived In
United Kingdom
Old School Badges
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Pioneer Badge