CURRENT MISSION

Eudaimonia, Pura Vida, One Love, Ayomba

ABOUT ME

I live in San Francisco. I have been traveling since 2001 and since then have found my calling. I am addicted to traveling, to discovering people, places and things I never knew existed before. This world is so vast and beautiful and has so much to be discovered!

I love meeting people who are warm, open, like to connect and enjoy having a good time. I myself have a voracious appetite for meeting new people, experiencing new things and just down right LIVING!

I love to dance and take dance classes. If you love to dance, it would be my pleasure to introduce you to the numerous dance classes here in the city(congo, afro-hatian, samba, hip hop etc.)

I have written in a journal since I was nine. This habit has served as a way to track my experience through life. In that respect, I am a very reflective person and live twice: first in the moment and then in retrospection! I love writing and receiving letters. I see them as time capsules of a moment's feeling and essence! I am always open to new pen pals especially anyone who wants to practice their english!

PHILOSOPHY

My motto is "don't take life too seriously because you'll never make it out alive!" I believe that change on a micro and macro level stems from the individual. I believe that the only thing we can control in our lives is our attitude and how we perceive and receive things. If this is conditioned with love and acceptance, there is nothing that can not be conquered. I am very grateful for my life and the life I get to live. Lastly, I don't get jet lag. I'm solar powered.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am mindful of our interconnection.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I met new friends and couchsurfed in Iceland. I met an amazing traveler and had conversations with him on the boat he was staying at here in my part of the world.

Interests

I would like to learn more French. I am a beginner. I would also like to practice my Chinese (mandarin) and Spanish. I am always open to learning about someone's country and culture if you are someone who enjoys sharing!

I love the public library. I go at least once a week to check out new movies, music and books. I also love listening to stories on the radio particularly from the moth and this american life. (Podcasts of the shows are available on castroller.com)

Last but not least, I just love a good time. I am a relaxed and easy going person. Life is truly an experience and I am mindful and grateful for each day.

• culture
• writing
• books
• perfumes
• dancing
• walking
• motor boating
• boating
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• podcasts
• music
• scuba diving
• snorkeling
• track and field
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies:
Koyanaqaatsi
Powaqaatsi
Naqaqaatsi
Baraka
Samsara
Les Enfants Du Paradis
Amelie
Antonia
Illuminata
Dirty Dancing
Exiles
Winged Migration

Music: world

Books: Siddhartha, The Alchemist, Anais Nin's journals, Shakespeare, Greek plays, Dishwasher: A man's journey to wash dishes in all 50 states, The Glass Castle, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Tolstoy, Steinbeck, Travel books, World Atlas-

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

There can't be one so here's some:
Driving around the country of Iceland with my girlfriend Kristina. Oh how I love Iceland.

36 hours in Istanbul just because that was the maximum amount of time I could get off from work. I slept 6 hours of the 36. Flight was 13 hours. No jet lag!

Giraffes walking towards our car in South Africa. Rhinoceros'! Elephants! Basically the whole self drive experience at Kruger National Park in South Africa.

The Drakensberg Range

Snorkeling at an isolated beach in the Dominican Republic where I floated above a valley of starfish half the size of my body in all sorts of colors.

Ziplining in Costa Rica

Splunking and Rapelling into caves up here in California

Two day boat ride down the Mekong River

Halong Bay

Cliff diving and sliding down the natural slides of limestone at 27 waterfalls in The Dominican Republic

Being high at Macchu Picchu

Standing atop El Diablo Blanco, the highest sand dune in the world in Nazca, Peru

Burning Man

A pink moon in Finland

Driving around the Big Island of Hawaii in a jeep.

Bringing in the New Years in Cabarete, Costa Rica.

The look of sheer exhileration and joy on the face of my brother and the warm water splashing onto my face as our little motor boat cut through the waves by moonlight after we had just been rescued from almost being stranded on an island in Bocas Del Toro, Panama.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can take you to a dance studio that has all sorts of dance classes and I am always down to take any class. I also am a former competitive figure skater so I can teach you to ice skate.

I can share advice or suggestions about any of the countries I have traveled to.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A breath of fresh air! :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Laos, Lesotho, Mexico, Mozambique, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United Kingdom, United States