CURRENT MISSION

I want to meet as many interesting people as I can.

ABOUT ME

I have lived all over the United States during my life, but up until September (2009), I had only been outside of the country twice. Hoping to learn more about the world and other cultures, I quit my job -- where I worked as a journalist for a newspaper -- and sold everything I own to start a four-month journey of traveling throughout Europe. It was possibly the best decision I have ever made.
Now I am back in the States, living not far from some my family in Iowa. I will be out here until I hit the road again.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe you should make the most of your opportunities, especially while you're still young. You keep your friends and family close and always offer a helping hand to those in need.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Now that I've returned to the States, I plan to return the favor by helping others see what life is like in my country. I met plenty of great, friendly, generous people during my time in Europe, and giving back, through a couch or tips on where to visit, is the least I can do.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I stayed at two different places in Spain with CS and could not have had better experiences. My hosts were friendly, funny and generous.

Interests

I like to play sports, go to concerts, visit museums, go out for drinks -- whatever allows me to meet people or experience new things, I'm interested.

• concerts
• beer
• partying
• drinking
• traveling
• socializing
• sports
• journalism

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC: The Black Keys, White Stripes, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, etc.; MOVIES: Pulp Fiction, Casablanca, Rocky, Dumb and Dumber, Dazed and Confused, etc.; BOOKS: The Sun Also Rises, East of Eden, Native Son, Still Life with Woodpecker, Catcher in the Rye, etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Really? This is a weird question. One "amazing" thing I have done is take control of my life by getting rid of all the things I owned so they no longer own me. My life is free, which not many people can say where I am from.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can only claim to be an expert on how things work in the States since I have lived there my whole life. As a rule of thumb: 1. California is the best state in the U.S. because people are more laid back and the people are more diverse; 2. New York City is the coolest city in the country; 3. New Orleans is the best place to party; 4. People in the Midwest are often the most friendly; 5. Beer is a lot cheaper in the U.S. than it is in most of Europe.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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