Taking 2024 off work to do some serious traveling before lifestyle changes in 2025.

I am originally from outside Chicago in the USA but now live in Missoula, Montana. I lived in rural Mongolia for two years in the Peace Corps (a non-religious and federal US volunteer program) and it was a life changing experience for me. I changed many of my life goals upon my return to the US and moved out west. There I have pursued a career as a wildland fire fighter, a childhood dream of mine that also happens to be very conducive to traveling. I have embraced a seasonal and nomadic lifestyle of work during the warmer months and international travel during the colder ones. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. Below is what I’ve been up to (traveling wise) since I figured out what I wanted out of life (for now.)

Summer 2011-Fall 2013 - Living in Mongolia
Winter 2013 - 4 months traveling Mongolia to India
Winter 2014/15 - 3 months in Central America and 3 months in the Middle East
Winter 2015/16 - 5 months in South America
Winter 2016/17 - 5 months in Central Asia.
Winter 2017/18 - 5 months in Europe (based in Italy)
Winter 2018/19 - 2.5 months in the Caribbean and 2.5 months in Oceania
Winter 2019/20 - 2.5 months in West Africa and 2.5 months in Italy
Winter 2020/21 - Covid and shoulder surgeries :/
Winter 2021/22 - 6 months traveling from Istanbul to Rome through the Balkans
Winter 2022/23 - 2 months in Central America and 5 months in SE Asia
Winter 2023 - 3 months in Mesoamerica
2024 - Subcontinental Asia (7 months), Europe (3 months),

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because couchsurfers are a great group of people and I love to see a city or place through a local’s eyes.

Interests

I'm always looking to be challenged inside and outside of my comfort zone and I generally do anything twice. I am a very focused and driven person but also try to always smile and laugh at how life unfolds. I am easy going, outgoing, clean, respectful, spontaneous, and love making new friends. I love the outdoors, yoga, running, all exercise and sport in general, cooking and eating healthy food, hot springs, dark beer, red wine, mescal/tequila, trekking, camping, packing light, sky diving, scuba diving, free diving, rugby, snowboarding, backpacking, couchsurfing, sustainable hunting and fishing, and sleeping on the ground. What fuels my love for travel among many things is that I love learning new languages and learning about what makes us different as human beings and citizens based on our cultural and family upbringings.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sailed from Colombia to Martinique after answering a sailing help wanted ad on a wall.

Teach, Learn, Share

Every person you meet in this world has something to teach you and knows something you don’t.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love swapping stories, sharing laughs, walking the less traveled path, and doing what the locals do. Please teach me some of your native language and I'll help you learn some Mongolian, Hindi, Spanish, or Italian if you like. I also love to exercise, do yoga, run, hike, etc so would love to share a workout or do one of yours as well.

If you cook, I will clean. If I cook I'll probably end up insisting I clean as well.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Scotland, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, Mongolia, United States

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