CURRENT MISSION

Leave the world better than I found it.

ABOUT ME

I'm living in New Orleans and loving it! I used to teach marching bands which gave me the opportunity teach/perform across most of the United States, as well as live in Asia.

I love looking for adventure, and I'm a optimistic realist in love with the idea that, despite what happens to us, we can choose how we react.

PHILOSOPHY

I kind of mentioned this in the "About Me," so how about a few quotes:

1.) "People are always blaming circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them." - George Bernard Shaw

2.) "A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for." - John A. Shedd

3.) "I don't think that there are any limits to how excellent we could make life seem." - Jonathan Safran Foer

4.) "You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." - Sylvester Stallone

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm new! I live in one of the greatest cities in the world, though, and would happily host someone coming through!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Once, when I had just come back from a teaching trip in Thailand, my housemates in Brooklyn had given my room away. I had to surf on my couch for a few weeks then. :-)

I'm brand new to this site, but am excited to finally join!

Interests

Education, Reading, Running, History, Exploring, Music, Volunteering, Eating, and the incredible triumvirate of drinking, karaoke and dancing!

• performing arts
• dancing
• education
• cooking
• running
• drinking
• reading
• music
• karaoke
• teaching
• history
• tourism
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Everything is Illuminated, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The End of Poverty, Bienville's Dilemma, Life of Pi, Lord of the Rings, and so many more.

Music: Ben Folds, Guster, Journey, Styx, Elton John, Billy Joel, Queen, MyNameIsJohnMichael, Trombone Shorty, Edward Elgar, Morten Lauridsen, Eric Ewazen, Eric Whitacre, and many more.

Movies: Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, Shawshank Redemption, and many many more.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have led several-hour-long rehearsals for a Thai Marching Band, in Thai. There are others, but I feel like that's at least a little unique. :-)

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: I have a pretty strong history of the city of New Orleans (which could make a pretty fun tour guide!). And...I don't suppose anyone wants to learn to play the trombone? :-)

Learn: I love to learn about a city or town's history! I also want to learn how become a better cook, as well as particular styles of dance.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, China, Israel, Laos, Singapore, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, Thailand, United States

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