ABOUT ME

Just then Alice noticed the Cheshire-Cat sitting in a tree nearby. It saw Alice and grinned.
"Cheshire-Cat," said Alice, "please could you tell me which way I should go?"
"That depends on where you want to go," the Cheshire-Cat answered.
"I don't really care," said Alice.
Well it doesn't matter then, does it?" the Cheshire-Cat said.
"As long as I get somewhere," said Alice quickly.

This sums up my thoughts right now. I'm going somewhere... indeed, I'm always on the move, it seems. Five years ago I had never left Australia. Within that five years, I've worked in Sudan and Papua New Guinea, studied in Sweden and relaxed all over Europe and in my favourite place, Kenya. Heading back to Kenya in August.

PHILOSOPHY

I am a practising Christian guy, but not an evangelical! My faith is private and I hope that I actually walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have to be honest: a friend of mine recommended this as an option in my panic to find somewhere to stay in Brussels while I study French with a mate for a couple of weeks. But now I know it is a very structured project, I'm interested in knowing more and being useful. I'll be in Kenya by August and would love to help the network in that beautiful place.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None, but the experience of a friend was recounted with enthusiasm!

Interests

People, development, acting, reading, church-going. That's it in a nutshell. I always thoughts I should be an actor on stage, but have been sidetracked by working with a humanitarian agency! Seriously, I have enjoyed four years of living my work and I look forward to getting back to it. There's a vibrancy in the countries I've worked in that I miss when I'm away. What a privilege to learn so much from these people and places; it's a bit humbling, actually.

• cats
• books
• singing
• acting
• human rights
• reading
• traveling

Music, Movies, and Books

Ah, million dollar question....
The English Patient (book and movie);
Howard's End (book and movie);
anything with Meryl Streep, Robert de Niro, Cate Blanchett or Judi Dench;
Jasper Fforde books (genius);
Ian Rankin books (another genius)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was a passanger in the back of a small pick-up truck driving through the Papua New Guinean highlands doing some human rights research about three and a half years ago. We drove past an old man and a woman a few metres away. Just before the truck rounded the corner, I saw him open his arms wide and sweep the lady into a warm hug. I've seen and done a lot, but for some reason this sticks in my memory as something so striking in its simplicity. I also auditioned for Papua New Guinea's version of "Idol" singing Frank -Sinatra... I didn't make it past the heats...!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm afraid that the more I live and travel, the less I realise I know. I do know that our identities in this world are a lot more complex than the simplistic definitions world leaders are currently spouting to justify war and conflict (I'm reading a good book at the moment!), but I'm grateful that other leaders are emerging who are challenging this very notion. Anyone know who I'm refering to?!