Hello! My name is Andrew Ryan, and I am a 20 year old traveler, originally from just outside New York City.

I grew up traveling quite a bit, lucky enough to frequent locations in Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean! My love for discovering new cultures and cities began at this early age, and has stayed with me for my entire life.

My great passion in life other than travel is performing. I am currently entering my third year as a musical theatre major at Syracuse University, where I spend my days studying the craft of acting, working on my dance and vocal technique, and preparing to enter the theatrical profession.

My reason for creating a profile on Couchsurfing is because I am about to embark on a semester abroad in Firenze, where I will be from September 5th until December 15th. I am new to this network, and I have joined because I feel that the best way to see a new place is through the eyes of a local! If I have learned anything from my travels, it's that locals are more passionate about the place they're from than any travel booking company could ever be. I love to learn about how locals live in a new place, how they spend their days, how they cook at home, etc. To me, this is what is so special about travel, and it is why I'm so interested in using Couchsurfing for accommodation while traveling during my semester abroad.

Things to know about me:
- I love to cook! I have been cooking and baking since I was five, raised by a mother who was a professional baker. It is one of my greatest passions in life, and should I be staying with you, I would be delighted to cook a meal for you in your home! It's the least I could do to thank you for your hospitality, and for me, on of the most exciting prospects about visiting a new place is to cook with the local ingredients.
- I am a huge animal lover! If you have pets (dogs, cats, birds, fish, etc.), this is no problem. In fact, I would be delighted if you have pets, an I tend to get a long very well with them! I have to say, I am a dog-lover above all, but I love all pets. I have a dog named Maggie, and she is the light of my life!
- I love classical ballet, theatre, and opera. Wherever I am, I am passionate about seeing the local performance art. If you love any of these things, we might have quite a bit to talk about!
- I am very neat and clean. To me, a living space should be kept in order. I am a guest in your home, and I am keenly aware of the respect your space deserves. Know that whatever access I am granted in your apartment or home, I will treat that privilege with the utmost respect and care, as I would want the same from someone staying with me!
- I love learning new languages! I am fluent in English, and fairly conversational in French. I am just beginning to learn Italian, as I am about to move to Firenze. If the local language where you are isn't English, I am very passionate about soaking up as much of the language as I possibly can.
- I am gay!

I hope, though I am new to this network, you will consider allowing me to make use of your accommodations! I am very excited and passionate about visiting new places when I live abroad this semester, and I can think of no better way to see all that Europe has to offer than by staying with the locals. I hope to meet you soon!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

In my experience, staying in hotels or arranging tours with travel booking companies can distance you from an authentic experience of a new place! For me, the best part of travel is meeting new people, learning about local culture, and seeing how other people live. While on the road, I would be honored to share the home of a local, and see what life in that city is like through the eyes of someone who lives there!

Interests

• arts
• performing arts
• ballet dancing
• lgbt rights
• cooking
• chocolate
• cocktails
• nightlife
• reading
• opera
• art history
• history
• languages
• lgbt
• dance
• theatre
• cuisine
• ancient history
• contemporary dance
• local history
• world history
• vegetarian cooking
• vegan cooking
• musical theatre

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite artists are Lisa Mitchell, Sufjan Stevens, Matt Doyle, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and many others! Also, as a musical theatre performer, I love listening to musicals. My favorite composers are Stephen Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Andrew Lippa, Leonard Bernstein, and Frank Loesser.
My favorite movies are Doubt, Junebug, Clue, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, Clueless.
My favorite books are Little Bee by Chris Cleaver, Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynn Jones, Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, Hamlet by Shakespeare (not really a book, a play, but still!)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've gone SCUBA diving in the cathedrals of Bermuda. These structures exist only in Bermuda and Israel! They resemble the arched structure of cathedrals, with holes in the top that allow shafts of light to beam through the darkness under the roof of the structure. Being inside one of these is breathtaking, and it an experience I will never forget.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to learn new languages, and if you should open your home to me, I would love to learn some of your local language. Additionally, should you want to work on your English, I would be happy to speak English with you as a form of practice!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have been cooking and baking my entire life, and it is one of my greatest joys to cook a meal for a friend. Should you open your home to me, it would be my honor to prepare a meal for us to share! Let me know what ingredients and flavors you prefer, and those you do not, and I will prepare a dinner and dessert! We can enjoy the meal, and learn about each other's cultures, and talk about our travels together!

Countries I’ve Visited

Anguilla, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, England, France, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Martin (French part), Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States