CURRENT MISSION

To meet the world

ABOUT ME

Well... I think I'm a pretty friendly guy. I love to travel because I love seeing new places and discovering their unique cultural oddities and offerings. I have a pretty multi-faceted personality, with vestiges of the nerd, stoner, athlete, and musician phases I've gone through in my life. Of course these titles are extreme simplifications -- it's all just to say that I'm a very open person. I love to write, read, listen, discuss and experience. I don't think I can get any more specific than that.

PHILOSOPHY

Life is not governed by will or intention. Life is a question of nerves, and fibres, and slowly built-up cells in which thought hides itself and passion has its dreams.

Well... maybe that's a bit strong. Will and intention go a long, long way in the world. I guess I just remember this quote (from The Picture of Dorian Gray) as a way to calm myself when things aren't going my way. From there I soar to the hope that nothing is all bad -- at the very least you can learn from the troubles in your life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Once I get back to college my couch will be open for any and all friendly travelers who feel the inexplicable desire to come through Oberlin, Ohio. Additionally I'll be spreading the good name of Couch Surfing through word of mouth. And I'll be participating wholeheartedly by making myself a friendly, respectful guest to whoever is gracious enough to take me in.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I actually just got back from an informal couch surfing experience in Málaga, Spain. My friend and I met two girls in Córdoba the weekend before and I guess they liked us, so they invited us to couch surf at their house this past weekend! My experience was infinitely more enjoyable and authentically Spanish than it would have been if we had stayed in a hostel. And that's why I'm officially joining Couch Surfers now!

Interests

laughing, meeting people, contemplating, writing, getting my mind blown, partying, animals, party animals, art, music, food, oxygen

• animals
• arts
• writing
• dining
• athlete
• partying
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• surfing

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Thelonious Monk, Led Zeppelin, Tupac, James Brown, The Doors, MF Doom, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Sublime

Books: We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families, Ghosts of Spain, One Hundred Years of Solitude, The World Without Us, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Bodas de Sangre, Freakonomics

Movies: Austin Powers, Talk to Me, Poltergeist, The Shawshank Redemption, Fight Club, Scarface, The Lion King, Tupac Resurrection, American History X, Seven Up!, The Good Woman of Bangkok

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I volunteered gutting moldy, crumbling houses in New Orleans for several weeks so that their owners could have them appraised and begin the rebuilding process. I wasn't there for long enough, but I'll never forget the relieved faces of some of the troubled people we helped inch closer back to normalcy in one of the world's most vibrant cities.

Teach, Learn, Share

I don't know if I have any very special skills, but I see myself as a curious, engaging conversationalist who loves to listen. So if you're looking for some interesting, thoughtful conversation I'd love to get to know you.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, Mexico, Spain, United States