I am a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, where I studied geology and economics. I was also a rower for Texas Crew for 3 years of my college career.

I grew up overseas because of my dad's work, and that really opened up the world to me. I was growing up in Indonesia, traveling around Asia whenever we had the chance! After 6 years there, we had to move back to Texas, which was a major culture shock for me, despite the fact that it was technically my "home." After two years there, my family moved to Nigeria, and I began high school in a Swiss boarding school. There, I met friends from over 50 countries, and I knew from my first day there that my life had to have its roots in travel.

Since university, my wonderful girlfriend, Brenna, and I have been preparing to transition our lives away from the life of routine and into a life of exploration and learning. We've finally made it and begun our new lives cycling around the world!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

One thing I think I've always known, but only really realized recently is that the true value in travel lies in the people you meet and the cultures you experience and share. I love exploring nature and seeing new things, but nothing can compare to sharing those experiences with new and interesting people!

Interests

I like to live an active lifestyle. I enjoy cycling, running, swimming, rowing, hiking, etc.
I'm an athletic person, but it seems I missed the coordination required to be good at sports involving any ball. Regardless, I still love playing most sports!

I also love music and culture, and I believe that travel is the best way to discover these!

• dogs
• culture
• running
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• sports
• swimming
• rowing
• economics
• geology

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite artists include Ben Howard, Bon Iver, the Local Natives, the National, Noah and the Whale. I also like classical music and show tunes when the time is right!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once survived a pretty intense bout of dysentery while trekking in Nepal for a humanitarian trip! It's a pretty good story involving unexpected snow fall, a hungry pack of wild dogs, and a suspicious bowl of ramen.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good stories, good times, and good conversation!