Hi, my name is Ben and I'm a 23-year-old British guy and have just finished MSc in finance in Holland. Generally, very outgoing and love to try new things, I would try anything once within the boundaries of sanity. Love to cook, only wish I had more time to really dedicate to it. The plan is once I'm around 50 to open a restaurant, with some kind of philosophy degree thrown in on the side; finance can only entertain a man so much.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm looking to experience some more of the world before things get serious in London in the coming months, and as great as hostels are, I have been told this is the next best thing. The plan is to eventually make it to Yosemite, if by any chance your heading that way, double win for me.

Interests

• cooking
• travelling
• vegetarian cooking

Music, Movies, and Books

Living in Holland for the last year I have been listening to a lot of techno favourite label at the moment is probably Giegling, if you know them I'm sure you love them and if you dont they might be worth a listen. However, I have a very open mind when it comes to music and will listen to just about anything. But as much as I have tried cannot understand very heavy metal or anything really screamy. Jazz, funk, modern funk (have a listen to Vulfpeck can only make your day better I promise), singer-songwriter stuff (Tom Rosenthal has won a close place in my heart), house, garage, dnb, classical. Basically anything depending on the time of day and my mood. Movies anything by Tarrentino or Wes Anderson, I was recommended the Royal Tennenbaums after wrongly telling someone at a party I had watched all the Wes Anderson movies and I was very happy I was wrong. Just finished reading small is beautiful, which was a great little insight written in the 70s into some kind of Russel Brand-esc world where everyone lives in smaller communities to tackle climate change and a bunch of other very important social issues mainly surrounding higher GDPs and less happy people, definitely worth a read.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Although it was a really long time ago, and I'm sure I have done other fun things since. When I was 15 me and my Dad cycled to Italy from the UK. We had a map, but mainly just followed the sun south through all kinds of weird and wacky small towns in the middle of nowhere, France. We went over the Alpes, and one day we were in a cafe and a Lady came to us and offered us her skis and ski passes so we actually ended up cycling to the border of Italy and the skied in.

Teach, Learn, Share

Qualified sailing instructor, if for whatever reason you have access to boats but don't know how to sail, I'm sure I could teach you in exchange for space on your couch.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Love to cook, and very easy going, if you have a passion you want to share or something new you want to try I'm always game. So I guess I could cook for you, and then go and do your favourite thing.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Netherlands, United Kingdom