CURRENT MISSION

Comprehending what cycling across the USA did to me

ABOUT ME

Having left High School in Summer 07 I took a job to earn money to get away to China. Whilst there I had the most enriching experience, whether it was teaching the kids up the North-East, living in a totally alien community, or grappling with the language to allow me to answer the local's never ending questions (and to ask a few myself). When I returned from China I had a place at university to read architecture which I took up but it didn't work out for me. My time in China really made me re-consider and I've now re-applied to university and will be studying Chinese and Economics as of this September

Just cycled across the `USA!

ALSO! please note that despite my profile insisting that I logon in Basingstoke this is not the case and I do infact live in Wimbledon (home to the tennis) and I'm a handy guide for most things in central London.

PHILOSOPHY

I can't find the words to match my thoughts on this one. I guess I'm constantly thinking it through.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm currently living with my parents who I haven't yet been able to persuade so I'm currently a surfer who will be willing to host when the opportunity becomes available. I'm more than happy to show people around London though/ go out for a drink if anyone fancies it.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I got put onto couch-surfing by a friend who I was traveling through China with. I was headed to Japan and had nowhere to stay as all the hostels were full and then I signed up. I got in contact with Yuji in WaKoShi in North-Western Tokyo who put me up for four days, no questions asked and this was a revelation to me.
Since then I've shown a couple of people around London and really want to be able to host, but that's not going to be possible until I get my own place.

Interests

Cycling
China (and Chinese related things: film/art/culture/FOOD!)
Taking photos
Talking to people about their photos
Seeing photos in exhibitons
Lindy Hop Dancing (just starting)
drawing sporadically
Music and making mix CDs for friends

• dogs
• arts
• culture
• architecture
• dancing
• dining
• coffee
• working out
• drinking
• traveling
• juggling
• drawing
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• surfing
• tennis
• economics
• tourism
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Lost In Translation, The Bourne Trilogy, Paris Je T'aime, Anything (pretty much) with Bill Murray in - the Life Aquatic, The Royal Tenenbaums..Also recently got into Jia ZhangKe's films a lot such as Unknown Pleasures and Still Life. Also Blind Mountain, Waltz with Bashir.

Music: The National, Arab Strap, Radiohead, many others

Books: The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton, Brothers by Yu Hua, Grapefruit by Yoko Ono.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Langmusi 郎木寺： avoiding the horse trek option, I walked out the hostel with 2 friends and had an amazing 5 hour hike through the mountains of Northern Sichuan.
Then got VERY scared by some Tibetan dogs.
Cycled from Pacific to Atlantic across the USA. 3700 miles (5500kms~). Life-changing.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach diabolo and really basic juggling, I'm currently learning Mandarin and I can share my experiences of the U.K and my time in China.
On the sharing front. I'm a member of the Tate galleries as I go there a lot (tate modern and tate britain) This means I get free entry to all the exhibitions (that are normally £10 or so) and I get access to the members room which you are more than welcome to join me in for a coffee and amazing views over London. Possibly the best view in London.
I'm also pretty handy with a camera and am always looking to share photos and the stories they tell with people.

Countries I’ve Visited

Barbados, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mongolia, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Tunisia, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United Kingdom, United States