CURRENT MISSION

Prepare and save for my epic "round the world" trip

ABOUT ME

About me? I'm 5 foot 7 inches. I'm kind of insecure and shy about myself. Moved to Japan on a whim and haven't looked back after being bit by the travel bug. I'm always interested in meeting new people, especially fascinating people.

I enjoy hiking, rock climbing, almost any exercise, and a good time with anyone.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm still trying to figure out where my life is going at this point. I came to Japan, Kuwait & Korea in part to postpone a lot of major life decisions.
Why I live my life? I'm a Christian (albeit a very lousy one!) and live my life for the Lord. I'm not very good at it though, and have had many doubts and questions in my lifetime, as I think most people do. I'm not sure what gifts the lord has given me and how he intends for me to use them yet though.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I host and surf.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I visited Australian friends whom I met in California. We worked together at a kid's summer camp & they stayed w/me briefly in the US. Saw them 2 years later in Australia. My friends showed me an animal park, wineries, & stuff I wouldn't have found otherwise, and I saved a lot of money on lodgings. I've since visited & hosted friends & relatives from all over, but not on CS.

Also hosted & surfed on this site a bit. Having made a few friends. although I wonder if they liked me as much as I like them. :/

Interests

I'll try almost anything once. In the USA, I spend time hiking, rock climbing, skiing, & other outdoor activities. In college, life revolved around climbing & hiking.

Living in Korea now, I spend time hiking, traveling, planning travel, working out, running, and working.

I'm developing an interest in human cultures and sociology and am currently busy with life here in Korea.

• animals
• cooking
• exercise
• running
• working out
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• skiing
• rock climbing
• sociology

Music, Movies, and Books

Lately:
Fast Food Nastion/ Eric Schlosser
Lords of the Earth/ Don Richardson
Guns Germs & Steel/ Jared Diamond
Collapse/Jared Diamond
Cadillac Desert/ Marc Reisner
Blue Like Jazz/Donald Miller
The Chrysanthemum and the Sword/Ruth Benedict
The Rape of Nan King/Iris Chang

Other than that:
Anything by Orson Scott Card
Anything by CS Lewis or JRR Tolkein
Anything by Greg Child
Anything by Jon Krakauer

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Most amazing thing I've seen or done: River Rafting through the Grand Canyon. Bar none, the 3 most majestic and powerful journeys of my life.
I've had 3 chances to raft the mighty Colorado river & all are cherished memories.

Later, I lived in the Grand Canyon for 3 months working as a waiter during Summer break. Even after staring at it, hiking it, and photographing it from all angles every day for 3 months, it still holds enormous power over my imagination.

This last summer, I attempted my first through hike of the 500 mile Colorado Trail with 3 friends. I managed to hike about 350-400 miles before being forced out by an ankle injury.

Teach, Learn, Share

What I know?

I do have experience climbing and hiking and in the outdoors that I'm always willing to share and show people. One of the highlights of friends visiting me from summer camp is the opportunity to show people my favorite things, usually some far-out spot in the Coconino National Forest of Northern Arizona.
My friend and I hosted cookouts for other friends outdoors, cooking huge meals with 4-5 dutch ovens for 20 people. This was fun to share. When I return to Arizona I wish to do this again.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, Kuwait, South Korea, United States