COUCH SURFING

Right now I live in a very small apartment in a near suburb of Copenhagen. There is really only room here for a bed, a table and my books. Also the transport is awkward. So if you want to travel in Copenhagen I am afraid you're better of writing somebody who lives closer to the center. But if you think we should meet, I would be glad to give you a tour or we can go for a beer or something. I some periods I will be quite busy though.

I hope in time to find a larger apartment.

ABOUT ME

I am a quite small, friendly guy at the age of 29... I am a songwriter, philologist and a teacher.

My songs are a sort of political-lyrical songs, sort portraits with a social twist, I don't know. In Danish. I have a band whose name translates to "Morten Skou Andersen & the people he normally compares himself to." It's a reference to an expression used by the media an politician who like to talk about "the countries we normally compare ourselves to." You can check out my myspace profile if you want: www.mortenskouandersen.dk. I am also on Facebook.

I used to be quite superstitious. In the sense that I believed in signs. I believe that it means something when my bycicle lock somehow changes one ciffer all on its own, without me having touched it!!! It's not about determinism og religion for me. But I believe desperately in stories. Life doesn't crop up something strange and inexplicable just to watch it fade to nothing.

Well, of course I am interested in music. Especially roots music from the 40's, 50' and 60's, and 60's pop and experimental rock. When I travel I can't help digging for vinyl records. In all countries have great songwriters. They always sing in their native language. Until now this discovery has forced me to learn italian (for de Andrè), and I must learn russian well one day (for Vysotskij).

In the recent years I have become extremely interested in history. Especially ancient and medieval history of Europe. If you come to Copenhagen I would like to show you around. They say there's no history here, bu there is. I am especially fascinated by the most deparate of the Danish medieval kings and the hopeless power struggles of the time. Lately even Danish prehistory began to interest me, because it's so unbelievably stony. I like to put historical references in my songs, so all my interests sort of come together in my music.

I read fiction as well. Mostly Danish and Latin litterature, not least Lucan, whom I have come to consider the greatest poet ever. If you don't know him you ought to check him out. I promise you, there is nothing else like him.

I teach latin and classical arts in high school.

I grew up in the countryside, a place that has no name, and where there is no town. It's only a road, and then a handful of houses. And then of course the fields. I lived there for 21 years.

PHILOSOPHY

I am not a philosopher. I am a poet.

Pourquoi je suis sur Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

In the summer of 2008 I went on an interrail trip around East Europe, over Slovenia, to Genova. This was a great trip where I couch surfed whenever it was possible.

In the spring of 2010 I went (back) to Italy. I started out on a couple of language schools in Sicily. In Catania I stayed for two weeks with some great people while attending the school. Afterwards I went to "the continent" and surfed whereever it was possible. And I still haven't had enough I think:)

Since then I haven't done any couch surfing. I hav travelled though, especially in Italy and Germany.

Centres d'intérêt

Music, litterature, languages, strangers, stories of love and people...

• books
• poetry
• singing
• folklore
• concerts
• beer
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• cycling
• history
• languages
• philosophy
• religion

Morceaux de musique, films et livres

Alright, favourites:

MUSIC:
Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin'; Times they are a-changing; Another side of...; Blonde on blonde; John Wesley Harding; etc.
Fabrizio de André: Volume tre, La bouna novella, Storia di un' impiegato.
Bert Jansch: Bert Jansch.
Hank Williams: (I have a compilation).
Woody Guthrie: Dust bowl ballads (fx).
Robert Johnson: King of the delta blues singers.
Hits by the Hollies, Searchers, Beatles, Kinks...
Jefferson airplane: Surrealistic pillow
The velvet underground: White light/white heat
Talking Heads: More songs about buildings and food.
Pavement: Slanted and enchanted.
Roy Orbison in the old days.
Some danish bands and artists I recommend: Young Flowers, early Povl Dissing and Under Byen.

- Of course everything only on vinyl if I can get it!!! If you know where to buy Fabrizio de André on vinyl, oh tell me!

LITTERATURE:
Jack Kerouac: On the Road.
Lucan: Pharsalia.
Petronius: Satyrica.
Statius, SIlvae.
Hemmingway: Farewell to Arms.
Steinbeck: Grapes of Wrath.
George Orwell: 1984.
Catullus: Carmina.
Vergil, Aeneid.
And lots of Danish litterature, fx. Hans Kirk, Hans Scherfig, Martin A. Hansen and Peter Laugesen.

Chris Wickham, The Inheritance of Rome.
Susan Wise Bauer, The History of the Medieval World.

Enseignez, apprenez, partagez

I could tell you about how things are in Denmark. That on one hand our society works fairly well, and on the other hand there certainly are huge problems with racism a the economical development.

I am interested in Danish Medieval history and prehistory as well.

If you come visit me: We could go for a walk or visit a museum. I could take you to a concert, a singer/ songwriters evening - they are all over all the time, and some of it is actually good. Maybe I would be playing myself. And not least, I know where in Copenhagen to get the good beer!

Besides, if we get a bike for you, I would love to show you some of my favorite obscure details about Copenhagen.

I would like to exchange convictions about Europe and the EU. When some people believe that all people in Europe sort of share the same cultural background, are they right? Does everybody feel this way?

I would like to hear a love story from a foreign city. Foreign cities are always sort of poetic, no matter how ugly or beautiful they are.

And well I can also do some sweaty chords on the guitar, and some very folksy fingerpicking. Then you can tell me how a folk song sounds in your tradition or something.

Pays que j'ai visités

Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia

Pays dans lesquels j'ai vécu

Denmark

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