CURRENT MISSION

Ph.D. Student in Anthropology at CUNY in New York

ABOUT ME

I am an easy-going guy, living in Vienna, Austria for the year. I am a visiting Ph.D. Student here in Anthropology, but finishing my Ph.D. in New York City, and planning fieldwork in the Republic of Georgia on Wine (Production, Consumption, Ritual Sociality). I really enjoy wine, and have been collecting and drinking a good deal of it for the better part of 10 years--I am happy to go on about the intricacies of varietal or regional wine distinctions to anyone who wants to listen, but also happy to drink the cheap stuff without complaint ;) I have taught for the past few years at Brooklyn College in New York City (Anthropology, Anthropology of Politics, Anthropology of Sexuality). Enjoy intellectual discussions, though am not an overly-intense person, and tend to meld myself well to others' interests and activity levels.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None yet! A friend of mine recently reminded me of couchsurfing after checking it out years ago.

Interests

Anthropology, Wine, Travel (of course), Politics. I also very much enjoy the outdoors, and appreciate Vienna's incredibly close connection to nature, for bike rides, swimming in ponds and rivers and hiking.

• architecture
• dining
• wine
• drinking
• politics
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• swimming
• anthropology
• languages
• rivers

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Traveled to Uzbekistan a week following the massacre at Andijan, only to experience the most welcoming, humble, and generous people one could imagine (and incredible architecture to boot).

Have sat through countless ritual "supras" in the Republic of Georgia, in which wine is toasted in rigid order to the accompaniment of stacks of food, and the general trajectory passes one from 'order' to 'disorder' (read: debauchery) through the course of dozens of liters of wine.

Lived in the East Village in NYC for 5 years, which I consider my home. Despite having grown up in Texas, New York finds a way of melding itself to you, and making you wonder how you can ever leave. I will be back soon.

Teach, Learn, Share

I enjoy meeting with smart people who are inquisitive, respectful, and unique. Like hanging out with other people who are well-traveled, and speak languages that I don't know. I am trained as an anthropologist, so maybe this isn't a surprise :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Georgia, Mexico, Netherlands, United States