This turned out to be literary work (meaning it is long AF) and it is ALL about ME (hello, that’s literally the name of this section ^look above^)!!!! Please forgive, but you’ve been warned! Lol.

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Who am I really? (As I stare in the mirror, contemplating the existential crisis common to everyone born since 1987) Who hasn't been there? lol

Let's break down this question:

Where were you born/family/sports/things that drive you?

Slow down buddy! Let's start with family.
I was born in the Restrepo Maternity Hospital at 2,760 Meters in altitude
(explains the lung capacity [smirk] yes I love to show off!! This has been self diagnosed as a consequence of hardworking, absent parents - migrants/ can anyone else relate???)

Back to my birth…. in the capital city of Colombia - that is Bogota....home to over 10 Million people.

Father, mother, 1 older brother, 1 niece, 1 nephew, 1 English sister-in-law. 20 aunts/uncle, 40+cousins.

Okay, so I am a human (sorry to disappoint).

But who are you really, what gives you color, how are you different from another Colombian-born male?
Auchhhh, I got over this after I met the 100,000th Christian Perez, born in Colombia, who likes to play soccer.

I am another product of the same society, same in many ways, special in many others (just like all the others lol).

I am not afraid of being different. I lean into the “weird” label/title with which I have been knighted with throughout my life. No, I am not autistic (all my respect to you), I’m extremely socially fluid….but as my mom would ask as I was growing up “Why can’t you just be normal?”*** I can’t, I don’t know why, I was born this way.

I make many decisions that are contrary/different to the social norm. My hair, my job (or lack thereof), my points of view (generally way more thought out than normal)...but I am not just a contrarian, I like to question and experiment. Why do I need to wear these shoes from the store? I got a custom model of my foot and good handmade shoes made!!! Do I neeeed to wear deodorant (found out the answer within 48 hours). Hahaha.

Well, a lot of experiments do go wrong, but when they go right (for example with a made-up food recipe) they go VERY right…and I enjoy the result, I enjoy being/doing something different, the process (and pride) of discovering it (and it not just being handed down), and it being even just a little bit better then the default.

***BTW, my mother has grown more accepting of my “not normal” ways, to the point where she is also proud.
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I think the above describes me way better than a list of social references that would let you put me in a box which you can use as a familiar point of comparison. That is fair too, probably necessary - some details below:

-33, male, straight.
-If you didn’t notice by now, yes I am Latin-American. Rolo to be exact (meaning a subculture from Bogota), although very Miami-an at the same time. 305 anybody?
-Bachelors in International Affairs, Political Science, and Real Estate.
-Total fattie (I mean foodie) lmao.
-Have worked in real estate development for 10 years (I don’t want to confuse you with what exactly I did/do, but just know I was only able to sit in a stuffy (literally, probably has asbestos) corporate office for 1 year, after that I have done really random "entrepreneurial-things" within the industry, which have somehow (surprisingly) contributed to my bank account (yay). PS, surprising, as in I didn't know the result when I started, not surprisingly it did take a lot of design and effort (so proud of me (movie sob) lol).

Things to consider:
-I can't walk very long distances due to orthopedic issues (I do love to bike around cities)
-I do like to go to sleep early (9PM ish)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love people, I love getting to know people. To me this is 75% of the pleasure of travel.

People bring stories (Better than movies), people bring experiences (Actual living, not a movie!!!).
People bring life lessons, advice, and just random things you didn’t know (yes, I like learning, did I mention I am a nerd in rehabilitation? This might last a lifetime.), and people bring human connection (that warm smile, that hug, those eyebrows raising, the social dance in which I also become human). I can write a poem about this…should I?

To humans
You, which I love
Me

(Bravo, that was shorter than a haiku!) My mom would be proud.

Interests

They are wide and deep. I'd like to dedicate my life to improving and serving society. I am interested in improving our systems of social accountability, in increasing my own and other's opportunities to be Entreprenuers, and in increasing our general happiness and satisfactions levels through the use of our minds as a tool.

• poetry
• architecture
• cooking
• baking
• thrifting
• technology
• traveling
• woodworking
• hiking
• entrepreneurship
• history
• public policy
• parks
• plants
• landscape architecture
• healthy lifestyle
• construction
• development
• diversity
• nature walks
• urbanism
• nonprofits
• yoga and meditation
• civic engagement
• venture

Music, Movies, and Books

If you must know, I was a Harry Potter nerd at one point (raising my hand slowly, real slowly) lol

AND if you must know, when friends ask me for a recommendation, without a specific topic, I recommend Machiavelli's, The Prince.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

As a teenager, I set aside $30 USD a month (from my own work, homie), to pay for the education of another fellow teenager.

She graduated =)

This was set up by a non-profit.

Teach, Learn, Share

-I can teach you some Spanish or English.
-I can teach you about starting a business.
-I can teach you about real estate development.

-I can share with you some tips on how to travel.
-I can share with you some tips about dealing with anxiety and life in general.
-I can share with you some tips about exercise and stretching.

On sharing, please see the next section:

What I Can Share with Hosts

It's hard for me to know EXACTLY what to share without knowing who you are yet. However, for certain, at the end of the day all I want is for us to have a good time.

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Possibilities are endless, but here is a short (generic) list:
-I can cook, or we can cook
-We can go out for coffee or drinks
-We can go for a walk
-We can go to that "place" you've been wanting to go to.
-We can share old family pictures.
-I can be your psychologist (1 hour max lol)
-I can help you with your garden, or a shore you've been dreading.
-I can buy you your favorite munchie (Candy) that you feel guilty about buying for yourself lol.
-I can go get your mail for you. (I'm running out of ideas, bowing out).

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Bahamas, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, England, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Colombia, United States