I'm 20, I'm British/Sri-Lankan/Canadian, I'm studying Applied Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and I'm only a human being by biology!!! I have an endless enthusiasm and a passion for high quality in the arts. I am the type of person who believes that if you don't do something well, you shouldn't bother. That said, I am open to everybody and will always believe the best about everything in the world until proven otherwise.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've lived in 8 different places in my love and it has helped me to harness a deep love for the world and the magical/crazy people in it. I want to exchange ideas and discuss cultures with people from all over the world. Ideally, I'd like to travel around the world, coming to different countries and meeting local people to discuss the area they're coming from. But if anybody's ever in London, send me a message and we can sit down for a very British cup of tea!

Interests

In my spare time, you'll find me doing a crazy range of stuff. Most of the time, you will find me writing anything from a monologue to a comedic skit to a scene that I will eventually blend into a longer piece. I have also written loads of songs and I sing a lot but I don't play the guitar or piano (my soundcloud page: https://soundcloud.com/fin-ross-russell) I play the violin which helps me express myself. When I get the time, I love sports, going to the theatre, seeing amazing films, chilling inside on a cold day listening to good music and most uniquely... eating! In Asia, a lot of respect in the culture is based around good food and so I have a massive respect for food and the people who cook it (if you make me food I will seriously love you forever).

• arts
• culture
• writing
• singing
• education
• dining
• cooking
• running
• politics
• movies
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• piano
• violin
• sports
• biology
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to a large range of music from pop to rock to hip hop. If I had to stick with one genre however it would be folk music. It is very easy to make bad folk music, but when it's done right (like Mumford and Sons or the Zac Brown Band) there is nothing in the world quite like it. I have a very alternative/artistic/arthouse view on films. My favourite director of all time is Wes Anderson because the work he does is aesthetically gorgeous. If the script is good and unique, I will probably end up loving the film ('Her', 'The Lobster' and anything by legendary Serbian director Emir Kusturica - 'Underground' is my favourite of his). I don't find time to read a lot of books but I have a guilty pleasure soft spot for Dan Brown's work!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was home-schooled for most of my secondary education. Because of this, I had the opportunity to spend more time harnessing and discovering the person I was. However, it came with many challenges, I didn't have a peer group, I didn't do much group work and I was always worried about getting into University. Last year, even as I began my application process, I wasn't sure if anybody was going to accept me. I had a dream to get into the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama because it is one of the only main theatre schools that run this subject. I worked my ass off with the help of my parents to do my exams, put together a portfolio of all my work, prepare for my interview and get my references. This is routine for any normal school student but being home-schooled meant that I didn't have the resources or name of a school behind me when I applied. The ratio of entry for the course is 1:14 and I managed to get in! Now, I love my course and I am so proud of all the work I put in to get to where I am.

Teach, Learn, Share

As I'm still quite young, I wouldn't claim to be an expert in anything! I know pockets of knowledge and wisdom and small subjects and I can use that towards giving advice, being a good listener and just generally helping people out in difficult situations. I am a writer and so I see the world in a very unique way! By spending time with me, you will get to understand my views and perceptions and perhaps, you will also begin to see things and perspectives about the world that you never noticed were there before!

What I Can Share with Hosts

As a writer and as somebody who has traveled all over the world, I have many stories and experiences. The stories I tell, I tell because I believe they will be helpful and valuable to the person listening to them. I guarantee hosts that we will have an amazing conversation about a range of topics that could vary from politics to sports to the arts to cultural differences to Eurovision (I'm a massive fan). It's a crazy thing to say, but I am a unique soul, I'm extremely helpful with cleaning (have a bit of OCD around it) and I can help you see the world in a different way than you might be used to. Can't wait to meet all you wonderful people! :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Barbados, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, England, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Scotland, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom