Hi! I'm Tom, from Ireland and living in Barcelona for the past three years. I'd describe myself as a relaxed and sociable person, I love to be out in nature or up all night dancing to great music, but most of the time I'm studying or reading something or other . I'm doing a PhD here in Barcelona, studying the neurobiology and evolution of language. I love these general topics and love to discuss them, but don't worry, I don't expect everybody to feel the same way!!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on Couchsurfing to try get to know people from the places I'm visiting. In general, I would much prefer to stay with friends than in a hotel, and I'm hoping that Couchsurfing can give me the chance to do that, making those friends as I go.

I'd also like to return the favour to people who want to visit Barcelona. I'll most likely be here for the next three years or so.

Interests

I spend my free time hill walking, reading, discovering new music, going to concerts, drawing (when I have the patience), eating out, watching movies or TV series, going to the beach in the summer (whenever I have time), skiing in winter (when I get the chance), among other things...

• music festivals
• festivals
• red wine
• reading
• live music
• electronic music
• jazz
• blues
• outdoor activities
• languages
• neuroscience
• linguistics
• learning languages
• social justice
• house music
• funk
• disco
• techno
• playing music
• cognitive science
• genetics
• current affairs
• neurology
• soul music
• ambient
• afrobeat
• human evolution
• neurobiology
• evolutionary psychology
• evolutionary biology
• philosophy of language

Music, Movies, and Books

I am a massive music fan and am always trying to scribble down or Shazam new tunes I hear on the radio, DJ sessions, or wherever I come across them. I think good music can be found within just about any genre, so I don't know if I have a favourite style. I've been listening to a lot of soul, funk, disco and electronic music lately. I like jazz and blues and love to discover new music from around the world. For all that, my favourite band is still probably Radiohead . There's probably enough information there to turn off many potential hosts ... but I promise I won't impose my tastes on anyone.

When it comes to movies I like anything that can hold my interest with a decent script, acting, and direction, rather than an explosion every ten minutes. I could happily go through life without ever having to see another superhero movie. I really like Lost in Translation, About Schmidt ... that type of snoozefest... The year when There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford came out was probably the time when I most enjoyed going to the cinema. I don't look at too much sci-fi or fantasy, but am coming to understand it a bit more... and I could probably watch Jurassic Park once a year until I die. I do follow Game of Thrones (of course), but The Wire still gets my vote for best series of them all.

I am all day reading in work, so I rarely have the time to read for its own sake. Still, I always try to have some novel unfinished by my bedside... I think pretty much anything I've read by Orwell has blown me away. At the moment I'm reading the On the Origin of Species and A Tale of Two Cities ... trying to catch up on classics I should have read long ago. I try to read as much history as I can and always keep up to date with current affairs.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've made plenty of amazingly questionable decisions in my time with one common theme... quitting respectable jobs to study things with slim employment prospects... So I suppose I'm enriched with plenty of useless information to share with anyone who wants to hear it. I'm currently on my third stint of avoiding the real world, just finishing my first year of a PhD.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am open to learning absolutely anything... this is really what keeps me going day-to-day. I love to learn about new music, new cultures, and how to make new dishes.

I love to share food in good company and am always happy to share the cost of the shopping for meals and other necessities during my stay.

When it comes to teaching, well... there is all that useless accumulated knowledge from courses over the years. I can also give conversation classes in Spanish or English.

Oh, and I can teach how to make a Spanish omelette.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can certainly bring a taste of Spain with me wherever I go. For those who like wine I will bring nice bottle of Rioja, some Manchego cheese, or whatever else I can grab in the market (and fit in my suitcase) before I leave . I'm also happy to prepare some tapas — by which I mean patatas bravas and a Spanish omelette, and will always help out in the kitchen and tidying up. I can make a nice (improvised) curry if my host has the spices :-)

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, United States, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ireland, Mexico, Spain