CURRENT MISSION

To break out of my comfort zone, do things I have never experienced, and learn to adapt to crazy situations all with a smile and friends at my side.

ABOUT ME

I am a driven, outgoing and fun loving individual. I love meeting new people, learning new things and applying that to anything life throws my way all with a big smile. If you put positivity out there, it's definitely going to come back to you one way or another. I am optimistic, respectful and try to appreciate all the new experiences I have as well as the people I may share them with.

My interest include music, for which I have a deep passion both for playing and writing, research in the field of microbiology, cooking, partying and meeting new people. Emphasis on the last two. I am just as comfortable in a room full of strangers, mingling, chatting, exchanging ideas as dancing for hours and singing along to songs I may or may not know very well.

Basically, I am fun, I love having fun and I think there is much to learn from the world around us be it through hobbies, socializing or traveling and I really hope to put this into context now that I have the chance to go on an adventure.

PHILOSOPHY

I think we are here to make a difference, it's just a matter of taking the time to figure out how. I think it is really important to go into any situation with an open mind as this ensures you are leaving with more knowledge than when you went in. This makes for useful exchanges of ideas/philosophies which is what makes the world great. The idea of a huge melting pot of cultures, ideas, and people is something beautiful that I think merits deeper appreciation at times.

Having a positive outlook is crucial. Being upset is much more difficult and far less enjoyable than being happy so why hold a grudge? You have so much to experience it's insane, and if you're just at the tip of the ice berg why waste time being upset?

Express yourself through any means necessary. Be it creatively, intellectually, through research, through traveling, but just make sure you are yourself as this can become convoluted along the way.

Go into a situation with a positive attitude, and you are almost guaranteed to leave with one. Happiness is truly important know matter what you are doing and it can be found, you just have to look hard enough. Breaking out of your comfort zone is a way to go about this. This means being adventurous and accepting all at once in regards to what/who life throws at you. Take it all in stride and you're sure to do fantastically well.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

If I were acting as a host, I'd welcome the fellow surfer into my home as if they were friend. I have multiple pull out couches that can be turned into beds which would be readily available. I would plan to spend a fair amount of time with them, assuming they wanted to. On the other hand if they just wanted to crash on the couch I am more than happy to oblige and stay out of their way. I would however have to insist on at least one home cooked meal to save them some money from eating out too often and to get to know them a little better. My social life is their social life if they'll have it and any parties/bars/clubs/concerts that are worth going to, they will certainly be invited. In terms of noise and curfews, these aren't an issue as long as there is a heads up before. I enjoy partying, socializing and staying up late so I understand. I would hope to provide them with suggestions about things to do in Ottawa or even other potential travel destinations.

If I were a guest, the number one thing would be being respectful and polite towards my host. I hope to get to know the host so that they may become a potential friend. As I do enjoy going out, partying and socializing, I would hope to do so with the host, but if not possible I would be as respectful as possible regarding curfews and noise. This means letting them know my plans with ample notice, making sure everything is cool with them as I would hate to impede their space/schedule and obviously extend the invitation to them to join. I would also be open to any suggestions they would have as far as activities go and I would be very appreciative of the help they are offering. All in all, I would be very respectful and aware of the service being provided but would hope to encourage them to join me on my adventures. I plan to be a positive guest, help however I can and show my thanks as much as possible.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Unfortunately, I have only ever couch surfed on friends couches after long nights or days of traveling. I have never tried anything like this and I am looking forward to it!

Interests

Traveling
Music (mainly hardcore, dance, electro, hip hop, metal)
Playing Guitar
Cooking (Thai, Indian, Italian)
Meeting new people
Biking
Hiking
Scientific Research (environmental microbiology)
Environmental Health
Partying
Dancing
Watching movies with friends
Constructive discussions/debates

• animals
• writing
• singing
• acting
• concerts
• dancing
• break dancing
• environment
• cooking
• partying
• drinking
• clubbing
• drinking games
• movies
• traveling
• eating out
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• cycling
• hiking
• sports
• basketball
• volleyball
• biology

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies (I watch far too many, so this is the most recent favorites list):
- BBC life/planet earth series
- Garden state
- Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind
- Thirst
- Cedar Rapids
- Cyrus

Music (all kinds but I will drill it down to genres and bands)
- Post Hardcore (the bled, boys night out, letlive)
- Hardcore (converge, defeater)
- Metal (Between the buried and me, Gojira, Meshuggah)
- Hip hop (Kendrick Lamar, MF DOOM, Sage Francis)
- Electro (Justice, Daft Punk, Boys Noize)
- Dubstep/Breakbeat (SBTRKT, Machinedrum, Burial)
- Indie rock (the National, Modest Mouse, LCD sound system)

I honestly love all types of music so this is a tough list to write. I am always open to suggestions and will give everything a chance.

Books:
- All families are psychotic (Douglas Copeland)
- Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn (Henry Miller)
- An air conditioned nightmare (Henry Miller)
- Dracula (Bram Stoker)
- Hot, flat and crowded (Thomas Friedman)
- Dune (Frank Herbert)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Played in bands with my best buds and managed to have some success, making it through to a city wide battle of the bands despite having little to no experience playing shows.

I have done some amazing things with molecular biology and microbiology, as nerdy as it may be. for one, I genetically modified bacteria so they could absorb mercury contamination in the environment which I consider to be something amazing, at least from a scientific point of view.

I plan to improve this list through my new travel experiences. Don't worry, I am not actually that nerdy.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:
- guitar/singing, how to use music as a tool for expression or even just plain old fun
- fun facts galore, studying Biology has left me with too many fun facts that I need to share ranging from the tiniest of bacteria to the largest of animals
- be open minded, the world is full of surprises. Being anxious, close minded and ignorant is no way to go through life.

Learn:
- How to ride a motorcycle/scooter/elephant or any other means of transportation I have yet to use
- Break dancing (it just looks so cool)
- To throw myself into new situations and interact with people from different cultural backgrounds
- Any type of traditional dancing (ex: salsa), I love dancing but I am just uncoordinated and need help!

Share:
- basketball, volleyball, playing any sports
- dancing, dancing and more dancing
- singing songs, playing music and having an all around good time
- drinking games
- a big old smile and thank you wherever I go

Countries I’ve Visited

Croatia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada