CURRENT MISSION

to learn Dutch, make some new friends in Holland and have reckless adventures

ABOUT ME

I am from Canada, but live in the Netherlands. I'll probably be here for awhile. I study, I work, I try to stay sane. I often get the urge to sell all my possessions and live in the woods forever, and don't really bother with being rational because that's no fun.

I am a very high-energy person who needs to keep moving and talking (often at the same time). I am always looking at how to make things myself (from bread to dresses to houses)and try my best to repurpose and reuse all things I find however I can. I enjoy cooking for people, and have a very long list of weird things I want to learn.

Formally, I'm a lazy academic of Art History and contemporary philosophy. I'm also an avid scholar of gender studies, human rights, English literature, pedagogy, philosophy, cultural studies, and communications. Sometimes students hire me privately to make their essays awesome, which is in itself quite awesome.

PHILOSOPHY

We did not inherit the land from our ancestors, we're borrowing it from our children.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I used to host guests with my partner when we lived in Vancouver. We live in Tilburg now, and have a very empty spare bedroom that could be used for hosting 1-2 people.

Of course, I also like using CS to meet interesting people who don't mind putting up with my half-assed attempts at pronouncing Dutch double vowel sounds.

My partner also has a verified CS account. You can find him here:

https://www.couchsurfing.org/people/gnotisauton/

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted several guest over my time. I also couch surfed a roadtrip in British Columbia in 2008 and 2010, in England for a buisness trip in 2012, and in Hilversum for an evening in 2012.

Interests

My interestes are a grab-bag of junk: sewing, baking, gardening, carpentry, swimming, bellydancing, busking, hiking, camping, yoga, endurance training, and tai chi. I love whisky more than words can say. I also like to sing. A lot. Whether or not I'm good is not interesting.

But most importantly, I'm very interested in talking. With anyone. I need it to live.

• arts
• literature
• singing
• human rights
• cooking
• baking
• yoga
• coach
• gardening
• hiking
• camping
• swimming
• art history
• communications
• cultural studies
• teaching
• gender studies
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

I think documentaries are a lot cooler than I probably should.

Music is a huge part of my life as is reading. I will not go further than that lest I write on forever...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One time I saw a goat jump onto the back of a horse and chill out up there. I think that counts for something.

Teach, Learn, Share

Coincidentally, I like all the above things involving teaching, learning and sharing as I'm kinda an English Teacher!

I like to coach, edit, and review peoples skills to make them stronger. It makes me feel useful as a "thing that thinks," to encourage another thing to think. I think.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Netherlands, United States