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John Lubotsky

Current Mission: "To find a fabulous roommate for our house here in Berkeley."

Personal Designations

Meet for coffee or drink Verified Vouched for18

Community Designations

City Ambassador (Berkeley)
Thailand Collective Contribution
United States
California
Berkeley
Lat: 37.87167, Lon: -122.27167
Show nearby Couches (100 K)

General Information

John Lubotsky is a CS City Ambassador for Berkeley, United States!
CS Collective Participant in Thailand
John Lubotsky has been vouched for
VERIFIED MEMBER (3) more info
Couch availableCoffee or a drink
CouchSurf requests replied to97%
member sinceJune 12th, 2004
profile views3675
age34
genderMale
membernameJOHNLUBOTSKY
occupationTech geek for money, travelling and juggling and ahimsa for love.
Direct Profile URL

Languages

  • EnglishExpert
  • Sign Language - AmericanIntermediate
  • FrenchBeginner
  • ArabicBeginner
  • ThaiBeginner

Groups I Belong To

Berkeley 248:504
Why: Excited to be a new CS ambassador for our little enclave by the Bay. :)
City Ambassadors! 952:1771
Why: Happy to be an ambassador in Berkeley, CA, US
Ambassador's Private 1487:8675
Why: Happy to be an ambassador in Berkeley, CA, US
Active in 10 more groups.
Show them all

Couch Information


Couch Available: Coffee or a drink
Preferred Gender: Any

I'm a bit too busy to host just now, but if you think we'd really, really click, you're still welcome to ask. :)

I live in a comfy rented 3-bedroom house in West Berkeley with two roommates and a fantastic Siamese kitty. We have a lovely kitchen, a futon, a garden. It's a 15 minute walk from the nearest BART station, about 20 minutes from downtown San Francisco on the train, and about a 30-minute walk from the University.

I especially enjoy meeting people who will share their native language with me, Deaf travelers, sadhus with a sense of humor, brilliant dreamers, and jugglers/circus folk to play and practice with.

While in town, check out some of the fantastic art and culture to be found in SF and the Bay Area.

Contact Method: Drop me an email, i check it obsessively.

Friends (66)

     + Add to my friends    

World map
Map of friends
PictureMeredith Gilbert
27, Female
Somerville, Massachusetts
United States
Friends since February 2008
"Instant best friends from Thailand... talked shop about Africa, India, and SF."
Friendship Type: 7 - Best Friend
Met in person  
PictureRose Barber
37, Female
Oakland, California
United States
Friends since March 2002
"through fire and love"
Friendship Type: 6 - Close Friend
Met in person  
PictureAharon Wheels Bolsta
36, Male
Oakland, California
United States
Friends since March 1994
"we met in 1994! we have weaved in and out of one another's lives since then, crashing on one another's couches as the need arises!"
Friendship Type: 6 - Close Friend
Met in person   Hosted4   Surfed7   Traveled7  
PictureTzadik Greenberg
30, Male
Tucson, Arizona
United States
Friends since 2005
"he couch surfed with me in March '05 - beginning of powerful connection"
PictureWun Yip
29, Female
Oakland, California
United States
Friends since 1998
"burn a man"
PictureErick Matsen
30, Male
Berkeley, California
United States
"housemate"
PictureMaria Mango
28, Female
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada
Friends since September 2006
"Burning Man"
Friendship Type: 5 - Good Friend
Met in person   Surfed30+  
PictureLyle Yip Sprague
25, Male
Berkeley, California
United States
Friends since July 2004
"he taught me to juggle his balls"
Friendship Type: 5 - Good Friend
Met in person  
PictureMANDIE M
29, Female
Canowindra, New South Wales
Australia
Friends since January 2008
"We connected while collecting at the Thailand Collective! "
Friendship Type: 3 - CouchSurfing Friend
Met in person  
PictureMariah Price
26, Female
Ann Arbor, Michigan
United States
Friends since September 2006
"Friends, coffee, bikes, and that sweet little goat shed!"
Friendship Type: 5 - Good Friend
Met in person  
56 more friends
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John Lubotsky
Puppies and beer - Kata Beach, Thailand, Dec. 2007
View all 11 photos

Interests

In no particular order: understanding systems, Nonviolent Communication, bikes, juggling, improving my ASL (and French and Arabic and Thai), living in community, eating sustainably, climbing around like a monkey, playing drunken speed chess, energy work, breathing.

Locations Traveled

TRAVELED: Israel, Jordan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, West Bank
LIVED: Thailand, United States, West Bank
WANTS TO GO: China, India

References

     Leave a Reference >>    
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From MIMIMINI
 Bangkok, Thailand
 Aug 1
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 1 days 
Positive

Joh such a wick guy who's really calm and can have fun in a very polite way lol
i enjoy so much when we went to Songkran festival here in Bkk.Hope to see you again!

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From Hannah Perner-wilson
 Brooklyn, United States
 Jul 27
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 5 days  
Positive

Because of John my stay in Berkeley was that much more enjoyable. The bed was most comfortable, the cats super cute, his friends were all wonderful, the Balkan music beautiful and I was lucky that he had time to talk. I like his idea of teaching people about small and large systems and am curious to see what might come of it. Thank you John for everything!

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From JRBEDFORD
 Berkeley, United States
 Jul 15
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

John is incredible. Honest, straightforward, caring and incredibly intelligent... makes for a great conversation and a great time.

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From RKM Lai
 Sacramento, United States
 Jul 13
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 1 days  
Positive

John was very responsive to my inquiry to surf his couch / futon, especially as he heard about my mom and her recovering from surgery. He was very friendly, welcoming to ShaiMei and I.

His residence was welcoming. Positive location and easy to find.

However, the futon had problems in the early, early morning that was disruptive to ShaiMei and I. The futon frame was easily fixed in the morning during the light of day.

I enjoyed being at his house. I had fun conversation, juggling experiences, and knowledge and experiences share. I very much reference a: highly recommend.

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From Betsy Shafer
 Benton Harbor, United States
 May 17
Met in person Close Friend,  
Positive

As host John ensures pure comfort and every need met, as a friend his compassion is pure and innocent. John opened his house at the most unpredicted times of the day just so I had a place to rest my bones.

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From Naz Gassiep
 Wheelers Hill, Australia
 May 15
Met in person Close Friend,  
Positive

John is a caring and compassionate person who is very pleasant to be around and stimulating to talk to. The world needs more people like this!

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From DIAMONDINLONDON
 Harrow, United Kingdom
 May 14
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

John is the most gentle person I've ever met, who feels deeply for all and not only wants the world to be a better place but goes out and does something about it. There are numerous incidents I could quote but I was particularly blown away by his consideration when I had just lost most of my clothes at the launderette in Thailand a few days earlier and John phoned me especially to say he was heading that way and would I like to come with him and see if the clothes had turned up.

I was not only lucky enough to get to work with him in Thailand but even luckier to get to know him better outside of the work environment when I got to Melbourne.

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From KNULP
 Genova, Italy
 Apr 18
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

I think john have an uncommon constant state of calmness and an high zen degree. He have also a big heart. He even rescued me when my bicycle has broken in the middle of the street. One big Love to you and all the mates up there

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From Aharon Wheels Bolsta
 Oakland, United States
 Apr 18
Met in person Close Friend, Hosted 4 days Surfed 7 days Traveled 7 days 
Positive

14 years of friendship!

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From Honey Varindaravej
 Bangkok, Thailand
 Apr 17
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

John is amazing guy,he will make you laugh a lot with his performance! I met up with him only few hours ,make me very happy :O) Meet him if you get a change!

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From bee-chaleerat
 Leuven, Belgium
 Apr 16
Met in person Friend, Hosted 3 days  
Positive

Unique hair style,Great listener, Warm funny.. John is lovely! It's my honor to fight with him with our water guns in Songkran water war in BKK ;-) It was great to have you around, John. I hope our paths will cross again someplace :-)

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From Jay - Джей - Anderson
 Melbourne, Australia
 Apr 2
Met in person Friend, Hosted 4 days Traveled 1 days 
Positive

John's perspective on life is just amazing. He sees things in situations & people that make my head spin. On another note, my (formerly virgin) kitchen bench will never be the same again! A pleasure to have around, John's travel, technical and life experience makes him easy to talk to, easy to relate to and great to listen to. After watching some Australian "late night" comedy, I can safely say (in true Aussie style) - "Harden the @#$% up, John!" Be sure to host or at least meet John if he's nearby!

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From Lilian Pungas
 Berlin, Germany
 Mar 13
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

John, we gotta find you the german guy to dance with the next time..! :D it's a shame i couldn't see you dancing this time in Pai, well maybe in Bkk airport? haha ;)
john is real friendly + open and extremely fun to hang out with ;) see you in Bkk and have fun in Oz (plenty of germans there!;)

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From Benjamin Ranta
 Ishpeming, United States
 Mar 4
Met in person Friend, Surfed 13 days  
Positive

John made me feel very welcomed at the CS Collective in Thailand. He's quite possibly the most gentle person I've ever met. John is a great communicator and is as reliable as the day is long. I'm convince that there isn't a tense situation that John couldn't de-escalate. Too bad he's not running for office.

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From PINKFISH
 San Francisco, United States
 Feb 6
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

Freakin' stubborn, damn quet, highly sensitive, deeply intense, lovingly considerate, truly dedicated. I cherish him.

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From MOUNTAIN BOI
 Pai, Thailand
 Jan 28
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

John is a very nice person, gentle polite and kind. I met him in Pai, We go out and so the hose back ride together. I have a to say that this person is very pleasant to be around with. Hope I have more time to spent with him.

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From Rose Barber
 Oakland, United States
 Jan 26
Met in person Close Friend,  
Positive

John rocks! He is a great human being and a dazzling clown!

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From Lisa Sampson
 Edinburgh, United Kingdom
 Jan 24
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 9 days  
Positive

John is a great calming influence on the CS Thai Collective. I think this guy lives and breathes 'community' and that is a trait I admire in today's sometimes selfish world.

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From Carlos M. Cardenas
 Homer, United States
 Jan 16
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

John is really a good hearted guy, warm and open, the kind of people anyone like to have as friend. I am very glad to know him and thankful for making me feel welcome. We still have a couple of drinks to share and hope to be in the near future.

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From greenheart
 Portland, United States
 Jan 16
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

I met John while traveling through Eugene in the summer of '96 - we both spent a lot of time at Icky's teahouse. I remember John as being a very warm, sincere, thoughtful, calm & positive person. I was very excited to find him here and hope to see him again very soon!

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From Debasis Sil
 Kolkata, India
 Jan 10
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

John is very different! He is a huge reservoir of knowledge! He is so soft spoken and golden hearted man. The best part is when He talks others listen. He is a master bicycle rider too.I would love to meet him again.

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From Elena Peters
 Cologne, Germany
 Dec 28, 2007
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

Quiet at first glance, John goes deep immediately. Conversing with him is a real treat, and he might just invite you to join him for a stroll on the beach - or whatever natural scene is at hand :o)

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From Sara Engstrand
 Copenhagen, Denmark
 Nov 17, 2007
Met in person  
Positive

Though John claims not to know what to see in Berkeley he had more than enough great suggestions and knows a great deal about the area's history. I just stayed with him for one night but we had a great time dancing african dance and looking at the stars from his outdors couch.

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From Weston Hankins
 Homer, United States
 Nov 14, 2007
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

John's peace irradiates to everyone and everything within 10ft! I'm looking forward to spend some more time with him in Thailand!

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From Derek Wallace
 North Hollywood, United States
 Nov 3, 2007
Met in person Friend, Surfed 3 days  
Positive

The warm rays of the sun. A soft cat rubbing against your bare feet. A frosty fruit juice in your hand. A bowl of delicious pumpkin soup in your belly. Great stories, warm smiles, heartfelt laughs. These are the things I see when I close my eyes and think of my time with John.

I found Mr. Lubotsky while trying to meet as many locals as possible before I left the Bay Area and fell in love with him so much that I decided to stay a little longer. Whether it was joining me for a Halloween costume karaoke contest (during which he filmed my rendition of "We Are the World"), helping direct me around town on a day of crazy errands or just being there to talk about anything under the sun, John was the absolute perfect host and new friend to make. I keep saying this about all the people I met in Berkeley, but it really is true - they're the kinds of people I went up there specifically to find. John was no exception.

Actually, I take that back. John is most definitely the exception - he's one in a million. Have fun in Thailand, brother, and I'll see you soon!

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From Camtastic
 San Francisco, United States
 Oct 30, 2007
Met in person Friend, Traveled 7 days 
Positive

John and I kicked it at Burning Man 07 at the Lost Penguin Cafe.

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From Andrea Broussard
 Austin, United States
 Sep 28, 2007
Met in person Close Friend, Surfed 6 days  
Positive

John is an incredibly generous person with alot of love to offer. It is the lucky individual who gets to surf his couch.

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From Joshua Adair
 Austin, United States
 Sep 19, 2007
Met in person Good Friend, Surfed 9 days  
Positive

John has been my favorite host ever. By far. Generous, honest, accomodating, funny, entertaining, giving, and all the other good verbs in the dictionary, he is a great human being

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From HungrySteve
 Portland, United States
 Sep 19, 2007
Met in person Friend, Surfed 4 days  
Positive

John is amazing cs host and person. He welcomed me into his home just because our friend Josh was staying there. He invited me into his home for 4 days as casually as most people say hello. He is soft spoken and considerate, knows some great people in the area and is wonderful to know in general. If you appreciate quality humans, meet John. He even took the time to help me learn a couple new juggling moves because he is a circus lover in addition to everything else. John is Quality (yeah, with a capital Q)!

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From TeDeVan Kurzweil
 New York, United States
 Sep 10, 2007
Met in person Friend, Surfed 3 days  
Positive

It was magic on the playa and there was a mutual spiritual understanding and I look forward to seeing him again on the west coast. I will always be a lost penguin.

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From Breakfast Breakfast
 San Francisco, United States
 Sep 10, 2007
Met in person Friend, Traveled 4 days 
Positive

I first met John at his house in Berkeley one night but didn't hang out with him much until we camped together at Burning Man. He was a great addition to our group, always full of positivity and good vibes. He's a warm and radiant character and I'm glad I know him.

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From Lauren Herzak-Bauman
 Minneapolis, United States
 May 28, 2007
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 2 days  
Positive

My two nights in Berkeley were well spent staying at John's house. He kindly let me borrow a bike for the day, a wonderful surpriese. Both he and his roommate shared wonderful stories, as well as coffee and breakfast. John is very good at following tangential sequences. Thank you for a lovely stay!

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From Carlotta Pegoraro
 Pistoia, Italy
 May 14, 2007
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Surfed 1 days  
Positive

John was PERFECT! He welcomed me in his house, he gave me his own bed and his bike. We went to an incredible show together and we introduced me to his friends... Incredibly nice! I wait for you in Italy now. Or Brazil.

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From Mariah Price
 Ann Arbor, United States
 Apr 19, 2007
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

John is a kind and exuberant host. A rare gem of a human being!

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From Lyle Yip Sprague
 Berkeley, United States
 Aug 10, 2006
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

this cat is so down to earth he's rootlike...

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From Tzadik Greenberg
 Tucson, United States
 Jul 19, 2006
Met in person  

Great, Sweet, Gentle Soul. John came to stay with me just before entering two weeks of soul journeying - I felt the energy he added to my space brought retreat and centering to my life. I experienced a very beautiful soul, full of life, compassion and humor.

     Leave a Reference >>