CURRENT MISSION

See all the things

ABOUT ME

Hi!
I graduated from Penn State a year ago, worked as a malaria researcher in Tanzania for a year, biked through a big chunk of Europe, and now I'm settling down for a bit during my medical studies in NYC (until I find time for my next adventure).

My favorite hobby outside of the medical/global health stuff is cycling. I try to keep up on current events and tend to be opinionated so hopefully that makes for good conversation when we hang out!

PHILOSOPHY

Trying to be a good Citizen of the World. Golden rule.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Thus far, I have only surfed with other folks in the course of my travels, but finally I am settled down enough to attempt to give back a little.

I have a tiny dorm-esque living situation in the Washington Heights neighborhood. My schedule as a med student will be stressful, so most requests I will probably turn down. HOWEVER, if you are in an emergency, and only need a night or two (and hopefully traveling alone). I could fit one person on my floor, and bathroom is shared (on a mixed gender floor). Since I'll probably be busy with classes, you'll be on your own during the day and we can meet up in the evenings.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I got into Couchsurfing when I was on a bike tour of the US Pacific Coast, from Vancouver to San Diego. I was amazed at the kindness of these total strangers to myself and fellow travelers. My favorite couchsurfing experiences have been staying in the freezer (turned off) of a warehouse in Centralia WA, staying in a school bus in Orick CA, and staying with a handful of the nicest guys ever in Castle Rock WA, Seaside OR, Garberville CA, and so many others.
I also like to use Warm Showers since I am a cyclotourist, and did that several times this past summer as I biked from Stockholm to Paris.

Interests

I love cycling, microbiology, traveling, social medicine, politics, music, meeting new people, and am always open for new experiences (within constraints, I am terrified of heights).

• beauty
• dancing
• politics
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• cycling
• engineering
• medicine

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Catch22, Grapes of Wrath, Mountains Beyond Mountains

Music: too much to mention here. Blues, rock, old school rap, jam-bands, trip-hop

Movies: again, too many that I love. 28 Days Later is probably a current favorite. Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In my several trips to Africa, I wanted to see the "Big Five" on my safaris. When I lived there for 9 months, all I had left was the elusive leopard- I did numerous safaris with no luck of finding him. While everyone else was gawking at the elephants and giraffes, I was furiously scanning the trees.
Finally, in my last couple weeks, when my family was visiting, we saw the beauty. Up in a tree, all by itself, and it was one of the most fantastic moments I've had.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you basic chords on a guitar, how to change the tire on a bike, and (in theory) how to genetically engineer genes. I would love to learn how to dance, how to build my own website, and how to edit video.