Hi! My name is Stephen!

CURRENT MISSION
My main agenda is to use my twenties to learn and explore the world, its many cultures, and find a few good friends in between.

I am 23 years old and I'm from Florida. Though, growing up my main mission was to get out of Florida ASAP. Since I moved away at 18, I've lived in five different cities and loved the aspect of restarting with new friends and culture. Friends can describe me as very open minded, funny, outgoing, extroverted (though I’m actually feel more to be quite introverted). I enjoy writing poetry, reading philosophy, playing guitar and late night existential talks around a fire.

In solo traveling or traveling in general, I am powered by the relationships that are strengthened and made, both with yourself and the people you meet. I believe traveling changes you, but not in some grand way, but rather it's more of a subtle transformative experience that is hard to pinpoint. I know that all of my travels have shaped me into who I am ; though, I could not characterize any part of my experiences with any particular quality I possess now. It is all connected and subtle, I hold my head higher and I feel a sense of sovereignty in my everyday life. A beautiful thing.

An odd reason that pushes me to travel more is this photography gift I make for my mom every year. Since I don't come home as often now, I always give her a calendar of my best pictures on my travels. You can fund much of my work on Instagram (@photos.w.stevo) or my website, and you can see my work get better and better as I search the earth for potential calendar pages. Every November my fiancé and I sit down and go over everything I've taken during the year, and with her eye for organization and tone, we make a beautiful piece of art every year. My calendars often end up as gifts for my hosts as well.

I've been to all 50 states, the Caribbean, and I just completed a trip from Togo. Usually, Couch Surfing is always the way to go. Something about the intimacy of someone's home is something a regular tourist cannot see when they do the more luxurious and far less interesting way of traveling. Couch Surfing is a gift to the world. It has helped me so much and my home is there when its needed.

I speak and bit of Spanish and a bit of French, though far from fluent and I would like to learn as much as possible! Looking for hosts and travelers who speak those languages.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To see how others live, broadening my perspective and gaining new eyes.

Interests

• writing
• photography
• coffee
• yoga
• medicine
• meeting new people

Music, Movies, and Books

Book:
Saipans by Yuval Noah Harari

Movie: The last move I saw was War Games so I suppose it is that one as well.

Music:
If it’s live, I love it

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Drove 8 hours through Norway, Finland, and Sweden and back chasing an aurora with my fiancé, 5 others, and a dog.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to work a camera

I would love to learn more Spanish/French plus any amazing travel stories you have!

I have my fair bit of funny travel stories as well!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love to clean, please give me dishes, a broom, or a vacuum; anything that makes your life a bit easier. Cleaning to me is very zen, good for the soul.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Finland, Haiti, Iceland, Norway, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin (French part), Sweden, Togo

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States