CURRENT MISSION

Speak Mandarin fluently in less than a year. I've been studying for 9 months so far. I'm getting close to my deadline, so we'll see if I make it. 加油！

ABOUT ME

I'm very easygoing. I like to just go with the flow, and I'm up for doing anything. I may seem quiet at first, but once you get me talking, you can't shut me up, and I have unique perspective on things that you've probably never heard before. I'm very friendly and I love to get to know people and what's going on in their lives. I'm willing to help you with whatever you need, and I love to work hard.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm a devoted Mormon. I believe in my religion with all my heart. But that doesn't mean I'm not open-minded. I believe that all truth is good, and knowing more is never a bad thing (even if it conflicts with my world view). Politically, I'm in the school of supply-side economics and I believe in the inalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. I live my life according to the belief that we have to take control of our own lives so that others don't control it for us and that we can do or accomplish anything we set our minds to and work hard at.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Well, I'm new to this site, but I'm a pretty experienced couch surfer. I've slept on couches more often than I've even slept on beds!

Interests

I love to learn, I love to teach, I love to study languages (currently working on Mandarin Chinese), I love to talk about deep topics, I love to hang out, watch movies, go out to eat, try new foods, play sports, play board games, play video games, go to museums, and a long list of other stuff.

• movies
• video games
• board games
• sports
• economics
• languages
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Nightwish, Delain, Evanescence, Paramore, Crystal Fighters, Reggina Spektor, Jack Johnson, Brooke White, Clearance Clearwater Revival, Simon & Garfunkel, Jim Croce, The Beatles, Elton John, т.д.

Movies: Master & Commander, Second-Hand Lions, Galaxy Quest, Snow Dogs, Daddy Day Care, Ice Princess, The Pacifier, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, The Sixth Sense, etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In 2012-2013, I decided I was going to learn Mandarin Chinese by living in Beijing, China for 8 months. I just barely had enough money for the visa and plane ticket, but I went anyways. I ended up finding many wonderful hosts using Couchsurfing and I was able to not only survive the 8-month trip, but thrive. I made many wonderful friends and I studied the language HARD. By the time I was done I could speak Chinese comfortably and I knew the city even better than most people who grew up there. I'll never forget the time I had there, nor the priceless experiences I was able to have, and I'll especially never forget the many dear friends I met there.

Teach, Learn, Share

My mission is to live life to the fullest - that means people and experiences, not comfort or wealth.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Estonia

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Russian Federation, United States