CURRENT MISSION

I want to meet some great people and experience a couple great cities. Above all, I need to finish school this year or I'm going to lose my mind!

ABOUT ME

I am a fifth (and final) year student working on my bachelor's degree in Political Science. I can't really explain why I picked that degree, except to say that I had to pick something and it made sense given the classes I was taking. I know that I don't want to live in either Alaska or Washington, so I'm interested in finding a place in or out of the US to live after graduation. I only hope that I won't be trapped by the oncoming student loan payments.

I've been thinking of myself as either a student or aspiring student for the last eight years of my life, so I'm really not sure how else to think of myself. But I'm also burned out of school, so I know that I'll need to find something to do when I finish. My options are open, which is both good and bad: The more choices you have, the harder it is to make one, at least for me.

I've been fortunate to be able to travel around the US and a little bit in Canada, but otherwise haven't had any chances to travel too far from home. Now that I'm in Norway for the term, I'm hoping that I'll get to spend some time in a few other countries, just to get a feel for some.

I don't know what I'm going to do when I finish school this year, but I think that traveling will help me come up with some ideas.

PHILOSOPHY

I think that my personal philosophy has shifted a bit in the last few years. I used to think it was best to just live your life without doing harm; but lately, I've come to think that you have to help people when you can, too. I still haven't figured out exactly how I want to live my life, but I know I want to spend more time traveling and volunteering. I have always been frustrated with bureaucracy, though, which keeps me from doing a lot of the things I might enjoy.

Lately I've found myself frustrated with the way my life's turning out. I'm hoping that traveling and meeting new people will rejuvenate my enthusiasm and optimism, though. I used to have a much sunnier outlook on life than I do now. I know that spending a lot of time stressed out is counter-productive, so I'm just trying to find a good first step and start from there.

I guess what keeps me going is my friends and family: They believe in me, and I know they invest considerable time and care on my behalf. I suppose I keep going so that I can one day repay them for the support I receive. Maybe that sounds like pure obligation, but I really just wish that my contribution was equal to theirs.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I haven't done any couchsurfing through this site, but I have been able to crash at places I've visited before, which is (almost) always preferable to a hotel. This past month, I got to crash at my professor's neighbor's house; the neighbors were having a party for their son who had just finished high school and was going away for a year at music school. I enjoyed the party immensely and was made to feel right at home. I'm hoping that my couchsurfing on here will be just as fortunate.

兴趣

I love music, especially rock, blues, and grunge. I enjoy going to live shows whenever possible. I also like to sing (either karaoke or in front of a band, when possible.) I started to play the drums, but I haven't been able to keep my set with me, so I've never gotten past beginner-level competence.

I enjoy movies, plays, comedians, and other live entertainment. I enjoy walking around cities, especially at night. I'm not much of an outdoorsman, but I like day-hikes and pretty scenery as much as anyone. I've also taken a liking to frisbee lately, though just as a "catch" kind of thing, not in any organized sense.

I used to have a motorcycle and I would love to have another. Travel by bike is just so different than car. When you are flying down the road leaning into the wind, you can't help but feel like you're flying.

I'm interested in politics and human rights, but lately the more I follow related news the more upset I get. So I'm on a bit of a break from the news, until I feel like I can read it without taking it personally.

Lately I've taken more of an interest in cooking: I'm no chef, but I can cook a few things well, and I love to cook for others.

I don't follow any sports teams, but I like watching American football, football, hockey, boxing, MMA, and other events occasionally. Especially live, though.

I like to act, so I've participated in school, when possible. I've also learned and forgotten some dance steps, like swing and blues dancing. It would be fun to learn again, though.

I'm interested in tattoos and piercings. I'm itching to get a few more tattoos in the next couple years, but I try to spend a lot of time thinking about them before I go in to the parlor. I like to hear the stories behind people's tats and piercings, they're usually interesting.

I'm also interested in science and psychology, though I'm by no means an expert in either. I've always had an interest in learning more about either, whenever I can.

Though my interest has flagged somewhat in the last few years, I used to be very interested in boxing/martial arts/fencing. Personal combat, I guess. I used to spar with my friends and take classes when I could. I always found that exciting.

• arts
• singing
• tattoos
• piercings
• dancing
• human rights
• cooking
• recipes
• walking
• partying
• flying
• politics
• news
• movies
• traveling
• investing
• music
• drums
• blues
• karaoke
• cycling
• hiking
• sports
• fencing
• boxing
• martial arts
• american football
• soccer
• hockey
• teaching
• history
• law
• political science
• psychology
• science
• volunteering

音乐、电影和书籍

I have watched so many movies it's probably ridiculous, but I suppose I must say that Star Wars and Lord of the Rings are some of my favorite movies. I also like a lot of other sci-fi/fantasy movies, like 13th Warrior, 5th Element, Children of Men, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Road, The Machinist, etc.

I like comedies as well, like Bad Santa, Monty Python, Royal Tennenbaums, and Princess Bride.

Really, any genre is good for me, it just depends on the mood I'm in.

Some of my favorite bands are Pearl Jam, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Incubus, PJ Franco and the Burnouts, Metallica, Soundgarden, The Refreshments, 3 Doors Down, Bad Religion, Rise Against, Black Crows, Cake, Dave Matthews, Eric Clapton, Delmag, Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, Everclear, Foo Fighters, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Post Harbor, Rage Against the Machine...I could go on and on. I think most people listen to a lot of music, I'm no different there.

Heinlein is probably my favorite author, I've read a ton of his books. Stranger in a Strange Land and Job are both stand-out books of his. Spider Robinson is another great author cut from the same cloth, Stardancer, Variable Star, the Mindkiller books, and his Callahan books are great. "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" is a great comedy book by David Sedaris that I enjoyed. George Martin's "Game of Thrones" books are great, as are David Morrell's stories. I've still not read "Fight Club" or "Choke", which are both movies I loved, but I read two of Chuck's other books, "Invisible Monsters" and "Lullaby" both of which were fantastic reads.

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

For my birthday one year, I went outside Anchorage, Alaska to the inlet at night. The night was completely clear and I was with some friends and we shot off fireworks and watched the stars. It was so clear you could see the Milky Way. That was a pretty amazing sight, one I hope I never forget.

教，学，和分享

Introductory drum lessons.
I know a few recipes I could teach, though nothing that'll impress at culinary school.
I guess you could always quiz me on things I've learned in school; legal cases, American Constitutional law, history, etc.
I could teach you to drive stick, or ride a motorcycle.
I could also teach you a little something about sword fighting. Never know when that'll come in handy, right?

我游览过的国家

Norway, United States

我居住过的国家

Norway, United States