CURRENT MISSION

To meet and experience as many people from the countries I visit as possible and never feel like a tourist skating along on the surface

ABOUT ME

I am a British writer and teacher, living in Rostov on Don, where I have a child. Also founder / former editor of Central and East European London Review (ceel.org.uk). I'm interested in Russia and Eastern Europe generally - particularly post-communism. I've travelled a lot in post-communist countries, but have now settled in Russia and, until I've explored this world-of-a-country, do not have much interest in seeing many others.

PHILOSOPHY

If we must drown, let the waves take us, not the crew's idleness.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I live in one room so am not much of a host - always happy though to meet for a coffee if anyone is passing through Rostov.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None

Interests

Reading, writing, walking, cooking, Camino de Santiago, theatre, cinema, the countries of Eastern and Central Europe.

• writing
• books
• cooking
• coffee
• walking
• movies
• reading
• traveling

Music, Movies, and Books

Lives of Others, Never Look Away, Unbearable Lightness of Being, Talk to Her, Max, Woody Allen, Tolstoy, Chekhov, George Orwell, Colin Thubron, Jamiroquai, Amy Winehouse, Shostakovich.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Written two books, started an arts website in London that had, at different times, about 60 people working for it on a voluntary basis, organised events on Hungary and Chernobyl, and walked the Camino de Santiago twice

Teach, Learn, Share

Living 7 years in Spain, working as a travel writer, living two years in Estonia, having worked in theatre.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Conversation, knowledge of South Russia.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Estonia, Russian Federation, Spain