CURRENT MISSION

Work to live and not the other way round.

ABOUT ME

Pia: half Polish, half Irish, Mirek is Polish. Pia grew up in London, had a French education, lived in Spain briefly and then moved to Poland after the political changes in the early 1990's. Mirek was born in Poland but moved to London where we met. We now live in the birthplace of Solidarnosc, Gdansk, a conscious choice, and still have no regrets. Close to the sea, woods and town and we certainly make the most of all!

PHILOSOPHY

Nothing to do with my personal philosophy, but people visiting the Trictiy might be interested to see the place where one of Roman Polanski's earlier films was shot.
One of my photos shows Tomek and I walking in one of the streets from this short movie:

Roman Polanski's short film in the Tricity: Two men and a wardrobe
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs2RZewMuAg]

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Have hosted a few people and enjoyed that thoroughly. Have not yet been hosted, but hope to start soon...

Interests

Current affairs, what's going on in the world and not just in my back yard.., travel, running, cycling, good conversation and lively discussion, sharing food, wine and good company.

Trite as it may sound, traveling allows you to learn not only about other cultures' customs, but about what makes people tick, and that is what appeals to us. It teaches you respect and enables you to see that bigger is not always better. Less is often more.

• education
• dining
• wine
• running
• walking
• movies
• traveling
• cycling
• camping
• rock climbing
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Travel books, anything by Norman Lewis, R.Kapuscinski, Dervla Murphy, Gavin Young. Arthur Koestler, A.Perez-Reverte, Knut Hamsun, Joseph Skvorecki, Barbara Kingsolver The list could go on, and on ... Also enjoy the occasional spy thriller by the likes of J.Le Carre, Len Deighton. Amy Tan is quite engrossing too.

For an amusing take on Gdansk: http://vimeo.com/13339553

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

the end of communism in Poland. On a lighter note, parachuting, travelling to base camp of Mt Everest, Chomolongma, in Tibet with hubby and son. Climbing up a cliff face with no protection of any kind to visit ancient rock hewn churches in Tigrai, Ethiopia. Doing a short stint of voluntary teaching to youth from various ethnic groups in Lashio, Burma/Myanmar.

Nothing nicer than travelling with no particular destination or purpose in mind which we, as a family, have done our share of and aim to continue that way.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know how to... make Mirek laugh, and that's a beginning!

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Cambodia, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom

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