I travel a lot. It started before birth .. I come from a multi-ethnic and mixed nationality background. Since then I've lived, worked and studied on five continents and sailed on three oceans. Officially I'm British, although I feel more like an Australian, but have lived the longest in Austria, Europe.
Currently I live in Vienna with my wife and two kids. I have two jobs... one as a specialist in international business (where I travel and work in the Middle East) and as an Artist ... see www.tomvenning.com

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm new to Couchsurfing.com although I've nearly always traveled like this privately... or I've camped... that is why I have no references.

When I travel for work my client pays ... so its the full business comfort etc. While that style of travel is convenient... its boring ... same old internationally identical hotels. However through business I get an intensive interaction with people from different cultures which I really enjoy.

When I travel privately, I want to meet people, get to see something not on the tourist trail, to not be stuck in a single isolated hotel room. That is why I want to couch surf... to meet, greet, experience, enjoy and live.

Interests

Family... I'm an active dad, art (I paint see. www.tomvenning.com), Sport ... I spin a staff or Bo-stick, travel (mainly Middle East and various Australian deserts ... I love the desert) , sailing ... I'm building a sailing boat ... and ... I like hanging out with interesting people.

• arts
• make up
• yachting
• boating
• traveling
• socializing
• painting
• sailing
• sports
• business

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sailed across the Atlantic when I was 19. The same year I drove through the USSR for six weeks. A few years later I cycled from Istanbul to Damascus. I've been shot at twice (never hit) ...

Teach, Learn, Share

When I was 19 I arrived in the Caribbean completely broke, so I asked around for work and got directed to a huge multimillion dollar yacht. The guy said I could live on his other 'small' boat and fix it up. I lived on it for a month, did some work (but less than agreed), and earned money else where... when I left I offered to pay rent to make up for the work I did not do ... the guy looked at scruffy me and my rucksack and said 'Don't worry... I don't need your money... pass it on to someone who does.'

I've lived by that ever since and have passed on what I can many many times ... that small favor he gave me has been multiplied again and again... I guess giving like that is exponential.

What I Can Share with Hosts

ideas... experience ... art ... I'd happily give a small piece of art in thanks.
I'm not accepting guest because I live in a small apartment with a family of four.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Scotland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Austria, England, Fiji, Kenya, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Scotland