Originally from Ireland, I've worked and travelled across a few corners of the world (N+S America, the Caribbean, South East Asia, the Middle East and bits of North Africa) - doing variously, high school teaching, writing, and research in neuroscience labs. I like long train journeys and strange villages with names that are hard to pronounce. Mostly though, I like to keep moving.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing has been a revelation. My last journey is a good example of why I hold it so dear. After many days moving through the mountains and forests of Lapland, I returned to ‘civilisation’ in need of a place to stay and – let’s face it – after so many days of solitude; a little local company would be very nice. But almost 300 km of hiking had taken it’s toll. When I caught a glimpse of myself in a shop window, I thought: “My god! I am bearded, dishevelled, unwashed and old! Who could possibly trust me! Who would welcome me into their home?” But they did. The Couchsurfing community of Norrbotten county, northern Sweden, was fantastic. They taught me a lot about openness, possibility, and the need to break down preconceived notions (mostly my own). Although I am not frequently, or for very long, at ‘home’, I would like to pay back that kindness when I can. But I have to confess – while I have shared wonderful meals with people – I myself am a terrible cook. Nevertheless, I can pull some carrots from the garden, chop some onions, and share a beer with whoever drops by.

Interests

Travel, poetry, mountain running, neuroscience, theatre, long-distance hiking.

• writing
• poetry
• cooking
• beer
• running
• traveling
• hiking
• neuroscience
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Zbigniew Herbert, Czeslaw Milosz, Lisel Mueller, Rory Stewart, Sherwood Anderson, Dany Laferrière, Ciaran Carson
Music: Tom Waits, Dirty Three, DakhaBrakha, Glen Hansard, Charles Mingus, Ali Farka Toure
Film: Bela Tarr, Werner Herzog, Wim Wenders, Yasujirō Ozu

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Crossed over Mount Chaberton and Mount Thabor in the Alps, covering 93 km under 24 hours - I would like to say running, but let's just say 'moving'.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Réunion, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Wales, Åland Islands

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Chile, England, Haiti, Ireland, Netherlands