I was named after my Finnish great-grandfather. He was a farmer who helped start one of the first co-ops in Northern Minnesota, spent a few days in jail when he refused to fight in World War I, was vocal about the fact that he was an atheist and socialist, made moonshine, and played the concertina in smokey bars. Most days I am just trying to be like him.

In real life, I am a postdoctoral researcher studying environmental sustainability, volunteerism, and health behavior.

And, I am actually pretty easy going and down for a good time, despite my stoic Finnish roots.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to meet some new people, as I am new to Nashville and I don't really know too many folks. I also generally support the idea of Couchsurfing.

Interests

I enjoy the outdoors, learning about science, trying new things that scare me just a bit. I like to think I am pretty open-minded and that I can find some sort of connection with most areas of life.

I am also a pretty big geek. Lord of the Rings/Hobbit/Tolkien, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, video games. I don't need that stuff to thrive, but it is definitely a part of me.

• video games
• outdoor activities
• atheism
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Anything by Palahniuk, Tolkien, or Thich Nhat Hanh. Catcher in the Rye, Don Quixote, I Am Legend, and some nonfiction stuff including Civil Disobedience, Living the Good Life, Conscience of a Liberal, and A Short History of Nearly Everything.

Movies: Fight Club, I Heart Huckabees, Waking Life, Big Fish, About Schmidt, Hero, The Lord of the Rings, Castaway.

Music: My favorites include Sigur Rós, Aesop Rock, The Chieftains, Trampled By Turtles, Atmosphere, Fat Freddy's Drop, Riceboy Sleeps, Bon Iver, Sage Francis, Eluvium, Daft Punk, Charlie Parr, Rage Against The Machine, múm, Future Islands, and Sufjan Stevens.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've skydived in New Zealand. That was cool.

I have done other things I think are kind of cool, in a humble sort of way, but that is what conversation is for.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A couch? Conversation, some knowledge of the city, and a relative warmth (as much warmth as someone who is half Finnish can muster, at least).

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, Fiji, Finland, France, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia