UPDATE, Jan. 2019:
I'm currently studying for my medical board exams, so I don't have a lot of time to host. However, if you are in Louisville and find yourself in a jam or without a host, send me a message. I have an Ikea futon in my living room and I may be able to offer you a place to sleep for a night or two depending on the day of the week (typically weekends are more feasible).

ABOUT ME
After graduating from Ohio State University in 2011, I spent two and a half years traveling and living abroad. I forged an inspired route back toward the United States where began my study of medicine. I enjoy going for walks, reading, photography, running, swimming, and spending time with friends and family.

PHILOSOPHY
Here are some quotes, poems, and insights that I collected over the years that have become a part of my world view.

That which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.
- Rabbi Hillel
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As you pass through life, pay attention to the signs and stations; if you don't like the scenery, pull the emergency cord and get off the train. There is no other conductor in charge. There is no one who needs to give you permission to transfer. This is your life. Your journey. Your trip to conduct.

- Dr. Bernie Siegel

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It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

- Theodore Roosevelt
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Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces towards change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.

- Helen Keller
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Aspire to inspire before you expire.
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All travel is circular. I had been jerked through Asia, making a parabola on one of the planet's hemispheres. After all, the grand tour is just the inspired man's way of heading home.

- Paul Theroux
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Deje el mundo cambiarle...y usted puede cambiar el mundo.
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When fishing for happiness,
catch and
release.
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For those who seek meaning in distant goals and future times, uncertainty can steal their dreams. But for those who embrace uncertainty, life exists in the present moment and their dreams can be lived.

- Dr. William Hablitzel
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Venid hasta el borde, les dijo. Tenemos medio, podríamos caer. Venid hasta el borde, les dijo.

Ellos fueron.

Los empujó.

Y volaron.

- Wall graffiti in Salamanca, Spain (2008)
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Instantes (Jorge Luis Borges)

Si pudiera vivir nuevamente mi vida,
en la próxima trataría de cometer más errores.
No intentaría ser tan perfecto, me relajaría más.
Sería más tonto de lo que he sido,
de hecho tomaría muy pocas cosas con seriedad.
Sería menos higiénico.
Correría más riesgos,
haría más viajes,
contemplaría más atardeceres,
subiría más montañas, nadaría más ríos.
Iría a más lugares adonde nunca he ido,
comería más helados y menos habas,
tendría más problemas reales y menos imaginarios.

Yo fui una de esas personas que vivió sensata
y prolíficamente cada minuto de su vida;
claro que tuve momentos de alegría.
Pero si pudiera volver atrás trataría
de tener solamente buenos momentos.

Por si no lo saben, de eso está hecha la vida,
sólo de momentos; no te pierdas el ahora.

Yo era uno de esos que nunca
iban a ninguna parte sin un termómetro,
una bolsa de agua caliente,
un paraguas y un paracaídas;
si pudiera volver a vivir, viajaría más liviano.

Si pudiera volver a vivir
comenzaría a andar descalzo a principios
de la primavera
y seguiría descalzo hasta concluir el otoño.
Daría más vueltas en calesita,
contemplaría más amaneceres,
y jugaría con más niños,
si tuviera otra vez vida por delante.

Pero ya ven, tengo 85 años...
y sé que me estoy muriendo.

Что привело меня на Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've couchsurfed in several countries and hosted quite a few surfers when I was living in Jerusalem.

Интересы

Family and friends, Traveling, Reading, Photography, Languages

• photography
• dancing
• running
• reading
• traveling
• music
• fishing
• swimming
• languages
• medicine

Музыка, кино и книги

Books: - My Grandfather's Blessings (Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen),- The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky), - Dying Was The Best Things That Even Happened to Me (Dr. William Hablitzel), - The Lost Art of Healing: Practicing Compassion in Medicne (Dr. Bernard Lown), - Peter Pan (Sir James Matthew Barrie), - Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom), - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Robert Pirsig), - Life of Pi (Yann Martel), - House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros), - Poems by Wilfred Owen, - After Life (Tobias Hecht),- Sin tetas no hay paraíso (Gustavo Bolívar Moreno), - Abzurdah (Cielo Latini), - No nacimos pa' semilla (Alonso Salazar),- La virgen de los sicarios (Fernando Vallejo),

Music: Here are just a few songs that I like:

- "Wake Me Up" by Aloe Blacc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ux4wCAbzZE

- "Vapour Trail" by Ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVhNi5cU8mo&ob=av2e

- "Hinach Yafah" by The Idan Raichel Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdxuz2h_P_0&feature=bf_next&list=AL94UKMTqg-9CJTuJ0oxUanN7S9moXxVCD

- "Other People's Dreams" by The Idan Raichel Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDpUlvF0-Dg

- "Scraps of Life" by The Idan Raichel Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYYYctLmnt4

- "From the Depths" by The Idan Raichel Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmW2yAYhMmM&feature=BFa&list=AL94UKMTqg-9CJTuJ0oxUanN7S9moXxVCD

- "Return Homeward" by The Idan Raichel Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4bCmFrd56s&feature=bf_next&list=AL94UKMTqg-9CJTuJ0oxUanN7S9moXxVCD

- "Refrain Thy Voice From Weeping" by The Idan Raichel Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Df_eEprZw&feature=bf_next&list=AL94UKMTqg-9CJTuJ0oxUanN7S9moXxVCD

- "This Too Shall Pass" by The Idan Raichel Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6S-M5d8__o&feature=bf_next&list=AL94UKMTqg-9CJTuJ0oxUanN7S9moXxVCD

- "Todas las Palabras" by The Idan Raichel Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzGH_oZmtxU

- "Elef Peamim" by Moshe Perez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQA53jkXKVI

- "Allah 3elik ya sidi" by Ihab Tawfik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAjXZVpiB0I

- "Pio Psila" by Vegas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7e3_OzysYE

- "Ven a mi" by Cali y El Dandee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Row6_pteyTQ

Favorite Movies: - Little Miss Sunshine, - Lost in Translation, - American Beauty,- Young Frankenstein, - Duma, - Forrest Gump,- Motorcycle Diaries,- Dead Poet's Society, - Schindler's List, - The MissionI also love watching "Españoles en el mundo." http://www.rtve.es/television/espanoles-en-el-mundo/

Классная вещь, которую я сделал(-а)

I grew my hair out for over two years and donated it to a non-profit organization that makes wigs for kids undergoing chemotherapy (http://www.wigsforkids.org/). I've also taught English as a second language to children in Slovakia (3 months), Spain (3 months), South Korea (6 months), and Turkey (8 months).

Учу, учусь, делюсь опытом и информацией

These are videos or websites that I find informative, inspirational, or just fun:

The Story of Stuff: http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Hope for Humanity: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9BE1YqDYlLo

My Inspiration: http://youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

Created by an avid Couchsurfer, and friend, that I met in Valencia: http://www.viddler.com/explore/mike_01_mike/videos/39/

Humanity needs a sense of humor: http://improveverywhere.com/

Hope through music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLDKtUeYCwc&feature=PlayList&p=D305DF3C0D6E4F98&index=15

Inspirational song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5NAPZp2w-o

Где я побывал(-а)

Canada, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Palestine, Turkey, United Kingdom

Где я жил(-а)

Israel, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United States

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