CURRENT MISSION

Live, Learn, and positively impact the people and the world around me. Oh, and try no to get killed along the way.

ABOUT ME

I'm one of those privileged fellows who graduated from a 4 year university and got to move back in with his parents (There seem to be more of us these days). Fortunately, school didn't quite burn through all my savings so I can travel and I can put off being a grown-up just a little longer.

For me as a person, I consider myself pretty laid back guy though one who takes his few responsibilities very seriously. Although I'm a little shy at times, there's nothing I enjoy more than hearing a great story or getting into an interesting conversation with a new friend.

PHILOSOPHY

I don't know if this is a good idea... but it'll be a good story for later. Let's do this!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I just joined the network.

Interests

I like to dabble in a little of everything, so if the person is passionate about just about any topic it interests me.

Generally some of my favorites are: Traveling (wouldn't join CS otherwise, right?), international volunteer work, outdoor activities (like hiking, cycling, rafting), Stand-up comedy, education, politics, religion, and professional sports... Oh and Reddit.

• education
• environment
• politics
• traveling
• volunteer work
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• sports
• teaching
• religion
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: The Departed, Castaway, Sin Nombre, Orange County, Spanglish, Mr. Deeds, anything with Zack Galifianakis, he's hilarious.

Music: Modest Mouse, Devotchka, Arcade Fire, Citizen Cope, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Strokes, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, The Temptations, Juanes

Books: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen, The Translator by Daoud Hari, First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung, John Grisham's books, A Great Gatsby

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I pedaled an old bicycle (with a man sitting on the back) up into the mountainous jungle of East India en route to visit a school in an isolated village.

I also climbed an active volcano during a rain/hail/wind storm.

Teach, Learn, Share

There are two social analysts whose ideas I've really taken to heart. Mark Twain and Paulo Freire. My favorite idea from Twain is summed up as

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” —Mark Twain, 1857

From Freire, it's that when a person has a really basic belief, one which acts as a prism through which they view the world, that belief cannot be shaken unless they are a comfortable environment with people they deeply trust. Without that trust, true learning and education is impossible.

Countries I’ve Visited

Guatemala, India, Israel

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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