ABOUT ME

Personality test

I think the first attribute people notice about me is my kindness and compassion. Very much wanting to create a harmony wherever I go, I can be laid back and easy going. I really enjoy 1on1 and small group conversations, often preferring this to large, loud crowds. But I can also let loose and have fun.

READY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD: Courage? Who needs it?

After a few years as a secondary teacher in Kansas, I decided to postpone my career, sell my possessions, and take the year to travel the world. People say I have a lot of courage for taking this leap, and I am confused by their statement. I don't see any other possible option for myself. I guess that's how it feels when you know what you want out of life.

Little bit 'bout me

During my early 20s, I was a race car driver, fashion model, and soccer coach. These were all part time gigs, offering very unique experiences, while I was attending the University of Kansas to earn my English degree (won the championship my senior year! '08) After graduating, I worked at a few jobs in the local schools as a teacher assistant. Finding myself enthusiastic to help young people, I decided to get my teaching license and Master's Degree in Education. For the past three years, I have been a High School Special Education Teacher in Kansas, while living in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Now, I am getting an itch again. I'm not saying I don't want to teach. In 5-10 years, I may find myself teaching again. But, right now, I have a burning desire to travel and reward myself with a little freedom. After all those years in schools, I am realizing that my education has just begun.

My timeline:
August-October: Live in NYC
October-March: Travel throughout Europe, volunteering through programs such as helpx.net
March-May: Back in NYC, or spend time in Seattle/San Fran/LA.
June-July: Brazil World Cup 2014

This is my once in a life time epic adventure. None of these adventures would be possible without the wonderful people on couchsurfing.org or helpx.net
I am very appreciative of any help you can offer.
Thanks for reading!

PHILOSOPHY

Get Drunk

Always be drunk.
That's it!
The great imperative!
In order not to feel
Time's horrid fardel
bruise your shoulders,
grinding you into the earth,
Get drunk and stay that way.
On what?
On wine, poetry, virtue, whatever.
But get drunk.
And if you sometimes happen to wake up
on the porches of a palace,
in the green grass of a ditch,
in the dismal loneliness of your own room,
your drunkenness gone or disappearing,
ask the wind,
the wave,
the star,
the bird,
the clock,
ask everything that flees,
everything that groans
or rolls
or sings,
everything that speaks,
ask what time it is;
and the wind,
the wave,
the star,
the bird,
the clock
will answer you:
"Time to get drunk!
Don't be martyred slaves of Time,
Get drunk!
Stay drunk!
On wine, virtue, poetry, whatever!"

Charles Baudelaire

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I plan to be moving around a lot in the next year. Once I settle back in the United States, I will get my own place and return the couchsurfing favor tenfold!!!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have slept on the couches and visited Boston, New York City, Orlando, Atlanta, and Portland. A couple of times, I have hosted bands through friends of mine that needed a place to stay in Kansas City.

Interests

We can talk about soccer all day, every day. I enjoy watching many other sports as well. I like adventure, travel, coffee, beer, food, books, music. Socializing is very important to me. I hope to meet many interesting people on my trips.

• books
• poetry
• fashion
• education
• dining
• wine
• beer
• coffee
• coach
• modeling
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• sports
• soccer
• world cup
• teaching
• mathematics
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Varies from Princess Bride to Apocalypse Now

Music: Many many Blues and Jazz greats. Miles Davis is out of this world, BB King, Ella Fitzgerald, Muddy Waters, Billie Holiday, Robert Johnson, Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Radiohead, Animal Collective, the Flaming Lips, Jeff Buckley, David Bowie, Nick Drake, the Smiths, Jack White, Leonard Cohen, James Taylor, the xx. It all depends on the moment.

Books, authors, poets: E.E. Cummings, Charles Baudelaire, Kurt Vonnegut, Russian literature giants, Candide.....

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Taking a float trip through the forests and caves of Belize!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach English, mathematics, soccer, guitar.

I would like to learn Spanish, French