I finished a PhD in physics in 2015 in New Zealand, and left to explore the world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Would like to meet interesting, open-minded people, and be able to travel further for a given budget.

Interests

Understanding the world is my passion. I've got the science angle fairly well covered, and I love to discuss economic, social, or philosophical issues with any one who is up for it.

• cooking
• recipes
• traveling
• history
• mathematics
• physics
• science
• statistics

Music, Movies, and Books

I love lots of different kinds of music, particularly anything where live musicians pursue precision in rhythm: so anything from funk to neo-classical metal to bluegrass. I also like moody, atmospheric, evocative stuff, though that can be found in any genre.

I play a bit of guitar when time permits.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

For about 12 years, I was legally blind (could not count the fingers on my own outstretched hand). I got through a university degree without really seeing the blackboard. Corneal transplants eventually restored my vision to near normal (I can drive). One thing I learned was tenacity, and I feel that I have a lot of catching up to do...

Teach, Learn, Share

I am really good at explaining technical things to people. (A PhD examiner said that my thesis was better written than most textbooks.) So I am happy to share my knowledge of physics - and a bit of maths and statistics.

Since I grew up in New Zealand, I am qualified to explain it to people.

I am interested in learning about the history of different cultures. But I am fascinated by the different life journeys that people have: does your background and character mean that your current life was inevitable? We can never know, but it is fun to speculate!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Intellectual discussion.

I have a few simple but delicious recipes that I can cook.

Countries I’ve Visited

Sweden

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Ireland, New Zealand