I love meeting new people, and it's really important for me to meet people where I'm traveling, and couchsurfing allows for that. I much prefer it to Airbnb, because in my experience, because there isn't a monetary exchange, the personal engagement and likelihood that you'll actually talk and hang out is much higher. I definitely believe in the power of hospitality and generosity to open us up to a fuller/more joyful life! I also WWOOFed in June 2012 in central Ireland and January-April 2014 in Chile, which is a bit of a similar type of experience, trusting strangers in order to visit and get to know a new place.

Music -- my Spotify drifts between the extremes of Puerto Rican political rap group Calle 13 and bluesy Americana stuff, Shovels & Rope, Houndsmouth, Be Good Tanyas, etc etc. Books -- i loved "Let the Great World Spin" by Colum McCann Films -- 13th, The Big Short, Inside Job, Where to Invade Next, Shock Doctrine (I mainly watch documentaries)