CURRENT MISSION

Learning, learning, learning...

ABOUT ME

Born in the US, and alternating ever since between New York and Paris. Studying arabic and hebrew languages and histories, planning something along diplomatic or IR lines. I'm fascinated by other cultures, often particularly those which we refuse to understand or choose to ignore.
I read a whole lot of news, while listening to a whole lot of different kinds of music, and watching a whole lot of movies. I go through packrat phases with film where I try to binge on as much as I can manage. Film festivals are a kind of heaven.
The trips I've had the chance to make into other cultures in the past year have all been amazing, and I can't wait to get back on the road.

PHILOSOPHY

An open mind is a good thing; a self-aware, self-critical one is better.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

My little studio's futon might be available as a last resort, and I could mostly do my best at directing you around Paris. I'm actually trying to know the city now better than simply my neighborhood; so, not a great guide now, but I'm learning!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm about to find out; only just started!

Interests

Chorals/A Cappella/Barbershop/Amazing voices and voice compositions of any kind (arvo pärt, you GOD!)
Languages, a lot of them
Film
Museums in general, I like staring at stuff

• festivals
• film festivals
• news
• movies
• music
• a cappella
• rock climbing
• geography
• history
• languages
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Just saw London River, see it if you're up for it
Also off the top of my head, Underground, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Up, Brick, Taxi Driver, Dr. Strangelove, Gomorra, Frost/Nixon, Doubt, Synechdoche NY, THX 1138, Hunger, Confessions of a Superhero, Special, Primer...

Music: Autechre; Amon Tobin; Arvo Pärt; The Hilliard Ensemble; Chanticleer; Birdy Nam Nam; Bon Iver; Grizzly Bear; Department of Eagles; Brightblack Morning Light; Atahualpa Yupanqi; Broadcast; Dabrye; Immortal Technique; DJ Spooky; Darc Mind; DJ Rupture; Flying Lotus; Steve Reich; Philip Glass; Coltrane; Max Roach; Buddy Rich; Charlie Parker; Moondog...

Books: Everything Haruki Murakami, especially Norwegian Wood, Windup Bird Chronicles, and South of the Border, West of the Sun; Banks' The Darling; Guns, Germs, and Steel; 1491; 1984; everything Yoko Ogawa; Slavoj Zizek; Empires of the Word; everything Erik Orsenna; The Shock Doctrine...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbing to the top of St Sulpice at night and looking over Paris.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know English and French fluently, and Spanish fairly well. I'm very well versed in Current Affairs, specifically France, the Middle East, and the US. I've got a fairly vast knowledge of contemporary film, and of a number of music genres.

I want to perfect my Spanish, and get my Arabic and Hebrew off the ground. I want to know more about Geography and History in a general sense.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Moldova, Netherlands, Palestine, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States