I really love history- prehistory, recent history and the history that we are living day by day. I think the best way to understand our complicated species and how we have over millennia survived and prospered (and how to prevent the various methods of self extermination) is to meet more people and talk with them- it makes the world less strange and more incredible. I think travel is the most pleasurable way of learning history and culture and about each other.

I'm married to a similar-minded person, at least as far as travel. Together we quit our jobs and now travel: we've been to many parks in the USA, Singapore, Nepal, India, Panama, Thailand, a little bit of Canada, Iceland, England, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium...

We like to talk and we disagree about enough things that conversations are usually interesting or entertaining.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I don't want to roam a country and learn nothing of the people who have made it what it is. Couchsurfing has so far made me feel like a visitor in a home rather than a tourist with a shallow understanding of a place.

Plus I fit comfortably on couches, and I like most people.

Interests

Eating!

...

Other stuff too, but I really like home-cooked food.

• education
• dining
• traveling
• backpacking
• biology
• teaching
• genealogy
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Not favorites but in general I like historical non-fiction, books that teach you something about people and what they are capable of

Recommended books I've read (besides the classics):

Fiction: Terry Pratchett's novels.
Khaled husseini novels like the kiterunner
Enders game
Sophie's world
What is the what by Dave egger (sort of a memoir)
Things they carried by Tim o Brien
The room

Nonfiction
12 years a slave
Autobiography of Frederick Douglas
King Leopolds ghost (Belgium ruler and Congo)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I jumped off a really high cliff into water which is the bravest thing I did (I went the highest of anyone on that particular cliff and had a surreal but epic moment of conquering great and suffocating fear as I looked down at the ocean). But then I got a concussion after I jumped and have amnesia of everything but standing at the cliff looking down. Typical.

Teach, Learn, Share

I taught Biology and lifeskills through Peace Corps. I have lots of ideas of how things could be improved in the world- businesses and social organizations etc- but I'm not good at organizing these ideas.

I love stories. I would really enjoy listening to stories, either true ones about ancestors or country or personal events, or old made up ones (like fairy tale stories).

What I Can Share with Hosts

My stories from my experience in rural Kenya, my experiences as a religious minority and being biracial, and I can tell hosts a little about genetics and genomics and biology, should they ever wonder about it.

I learned how to make re-usable sanitary napkins haha in Kenya - happy to share that skill.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Panama, Singapore, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Kenya, United States