Not Verified
Yuma, Arizona, United States
@Reclamationoffice
Member since 2014
I’m a veteran, artist, and documentary founder working to build emotional infrastructure through presence. I’m traveling slow, listening deep, and giving back one story at a time. Fluent in English. Learning Croatian + Spanish. Former founder of a food company, now building a healing café in Croatia.
Interested in Art
Interested in Cats
Fluent in English
Learning Croatian
Why I'm on Couchsurfing
I’m a U.S. Army veteran, trauma-informed storyteller, and founder of Barrio Prints — a quiet healing archive built through art, portraits, and presence. I’m traveling through Europe to document stories of grief, resilience, and emotional survival for a documentary called The Road to Reclamation. I don’t stay in hotels or hostels — I stay where people live and carry real stories. Couchsurfing is how I stay connected, soft, and grounded in this work. In return, I offer free portraits, respectful presence, and honest connection. You’re not just giving me a couch — you’re giving a story a place to rest.
Music, Movies, and Books
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music: Anything that hits the soul — The Killers, Chappell Roan, Florence + the Machine, Interpol, Bon Iver. I like soundtracks that feel like memory. Movies: I like layered stuff. Horror with depth, comedies that say something, and documentaries that actually let people breathe. I watch films for mood and meaning, not just plot. Books: I don’t finish many books these days — my mind moves fast and my memory is scattered since the military. But I love poetry, sci-fi, and true crime. If it’s honest and doesn’t talk down to the reader, I’m in. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One Amazing Thing I've Done
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Helped thousands of people during the Haiti earthquake mission while in the Army. Walked through Europe post-trauma and came back with a camera to listen instead of fight. Hitchhiked from Bosnia to Finland with nothing but a backpack and a purpose. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teach, Learn, Share
How to cook a no-bullshit meal with whatever’s in your fridge. How to tell your story without shame. How to ground yourself during emotional overload. Also — how to make a good cup of coffee. Learn: Your rituals. Your family’s way of grieving. What helped you survive. I want to understand how people from all cultures build safety and meaning, even when the world is chaotic. Share: I share my lens — literally and emotionally. If we meet, I’ll offer you a portrait. Not just a photo, but a moment where you feel reflected. That’s what I carry across borders.
What I Can Share With Hosts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • A portrait session (digital + mailed print) as a thank-you • Gentle conversation about healing, life, creativity, or silence • Home-cooked meals (I ran a recipe blog + cooked for a delivery company) • Clean-up, setup, and quiet presence — I’m a respectful guest and former military, so I leave spaces better than I found them • A real moment — the kind people remember after the noise fades ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Interests
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hitchhiking and frugal travel first and foremost, since it's my preferred way of getting around. Animals and nature, I have a hodge podge of random facts I've learned from watching way to many nature shows! (Probably not enough) Hiking and anything outdoors. Dancing, I took an ecstatic dance class in Albuquerque learned that I got some good moves so why not flaunt them ;) Movies and TV shows are my other hobby, I'm a free spirit with couch potato mixed in. Let's just say I know how to chill as well as go off on random adventures into the wilderness. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
