I am a living abroad with my best friend and love, Chantal. We sold all our stuff and left Canada in November, 2015, then backpacked through India on a budget for 5 months. We've been living in Siem Reap, Cambodia since May, 2016.

I grew up 30 min outside the city and before leaving, Chantal and I lived in a chill area of Winnipeg for 3 years. At home I worked with foster children and their families. Chantal and I are are both passionate musicians and enjoy sharing music and good conversation with others. I'd say I am easy to get along with and always look forward to meeting and learning from new people. I am a passionate conversationalist.

PHILOSOPHY

Change is good! Try to say yes to new things and challenge your own ideas, feelings and sense of self as often as you can.
The change I've experience this past year has been incomparable!

Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To connect with like minded travelers while seeing the world. Also, to occasionally have a change of travel style and to save a little money.
We want to bring Canada with us and share our experiences of growing up on prairies with our stories, perspective and sense of humour.

We hope to gain a deeper understanding of the culture in the places we visit. If we can use Couchsurfing to enrich and possibly lengthen our travels, we will be grateful.

So far, we've had 4 incredible cf experiences!

Interests

I am passionate about discourse and I am genuinely very interested in other cultures, ideas, views, etc. I love meeting others who appreciate the finer things in life: Music, food, laughter, kindness. I actively try to encourage my own pragmatism and metacognition skills while exercising my creativity as often as I can.

I love to make music. I enjoy switching between a few different instruments and writing new music in my head, and sometimes on paper. I've played in lots of bands and musical settings. Symphonic, marching, jazz, funk, rap/rock ,country, pop. I used to run my own Karaoke business! Chantal and I make music together often!

I love to cook. It resonates in me like making music and while I wouldn't say I'm that great, I can definitely whip up something tasty!
I enjoy painting, but only do it now and then. It relaxes AND invigorates me!

I'm interested in things like how people live differently, the welfare of children and people struggling with substance abuse, and mental health awareness. I enjoy learning about consciousness and psychology and how they relate to art and our daily lives, perceptions and beliefs.

I'm also interested in documentaries, self driving cars, the new aesthetic arm they made with a 3D printer that's crazy cheaper than others. The "Internet of things"
The world's first entirely Solar-Powered Airport is in Kochi, Kerala - that's awesome! Futurism, Ufo/alien discussions, gardening.

I Love Camping! Cooking over a fire if my preferred method and in my books, relaxing under the stars can't be beat.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• documentaries
• dining
• cooking
• exercise
• running
• gardening
• traveling
• cars
• painting
• music
• jazz
• karaoke
• hiking
• backpacking
• canoeing
• camping
• business
• psychology
• science
• space exploration

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC

The Decemberists, Brett Dennen, Blue Rodeo, James Taylor, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Metric, The Bad Plus, Mother Mother, Fleetwood Mac, Jamiroquai, Zac Brown Band, Chet Baker, John Mayer, Zac Webber, Duke Ellington, Maceo Parker, Regina Spektor, Jeff Buckley, Supertramp, Sarah Vaughan, The Tragically Hip, Barenaked Ladies.

I love Gustav Holst's 'The Planets' but, my favourite of his is 'Second Suite in F'.
Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Mahler

MOVIES

The Man From Earth, What Dreams May Come, Waking Life, The Time Machine, Moon, Indiana Jones 123, Back to the Future 123, Interstellar, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Films by Wes Anderson, Christopher Guest, Quentin Tarantino.

BOOKS

I am not a huge book reader, but i do enjoy spending hours ready online science, travel and art related articles.

I have enjoyed reading Steven King, poetry (i love Rumi) and I particularly love philosophy. Lately I have been reading more about my provinces Aboriginal culture and history.

*The one book that has moved me more than any gesture or melody is Kahlil Gibran's 'The Prophet'. I recommend you read this with an open mind and an open heart.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

This summer Chantal and I canoed through two tunnels that were dynamited through the precambrian rock. Above us, the two national railways that span across the country connecting Canadians from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
(Caddy Lake, South Cross Lake, Whiteshell Prov. Park)

Attended SXSW In Austin, Texas 2013 - Dave Grohl keynote speech was inspiring.

Traveled 7612km by bus and train across India in 5 months!

Teach, Learn, Share

I have over ten years experience working with children in multiple settings. As well as around seven years teaching music lessons to students of all ages, both privately and in groups. I also enjoy learning from others and working together to develop new ideas.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Aside from my stories and wide eyed excitement - I would be glad to help my host with any errands or reasonable chores. I can do my part to help out and even buy groceries to make a supper for my host.

Knowledge about Canada and other places I've been.

Maybe help my host practicing English or teaching some music? :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, India, Italy, Netherlands, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, Canada