CURRENT MISSION

Figure out what my mission is.

ABOUT ME

Edit: Sorry just moved to a new place so no couch at the moment, lemme sort stuff out and I'll get back to you!

I was born in Canada to British/Irish parents (because the hospital in Northern China was too dirty) at which point we went straight back to China for a year, and then on to Hong Kong where I lived from age 1 to 18, when I went to uni in Scotland. My personality usually switches between quiet and ironic to energetic wide-eyed enthusiasm (the latter with the help of some nice wine usually...)

PHILOSOPHY

La vida te da sorpresas, sorpresas te da la vida, ay dios....

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm a very international person with good friends on many continents and while I may not know this city like the back of my hand, I do know some cool cafes and pubs to while away the hours. As for food, the most important thing of course, I can offer some nice home-made Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Pinoy dishes and a totally relaxed environment to enjoy them in, where you are free to come and go or hang out as you please.

Interests

• environment
• dining
• wine
• pub crawls
• boxing

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
After a long period of opera obsession (Rameau, Pergolesi, Handel, Mozart, R. Strauss), my love for music from all around the world has come back to the fore. After a big Congolese soukous phase (Franco!!!!! Luambo, that is, not some rare old dictatorial recordings...), I am currently crazy about just about anything from Puerto Rico (Hector Lavoe/Fania, Tego Calderón, and though she's actually Cuban, Celia Cruz).

Other favourites include: Lou Reed, Luiz Gonzaga, Brand Nubian, Outkast, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Jonathan Richman, La Paquera de Jerez

Movies:
I haven't been that in to movies recently, but I love Nanni Moretti films and certain Woody Allen ones.

Books:
Anything by Ian Buruma or Robert Hughes.
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7320304-nguyen-santiago

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A man smiling and holding a box of exploding firecrackers above his head in Nagasaki on Obon.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Ireland, Japan, United Kingdom