ABOUT ME

I can be talked into doing almost anything, which has led me into a couple hair-raising situations but I've ultimately walked away every time with most of my body and mind intact (plus an awesome story). I like to make stuff too, mostly food and stuff out of scrap metal. And I'm a firm believer that the people who matter most in your life are the ones you least expect to meet.

PHILOSOPHY

Because someone has always said it better than you:

"I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out." -Roger Ebert

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I first moved to The Netherlands in the 2012 and didn't know anybody but my colleagues. A lot of kind and generous people helped me get comfortable and made this place feel like home. Now that I know my way around, it's time to pay it forward, and my wife and I like to welcome students from around the world attending Leiden University. Many of them have never been in The Netherlands before, so we help them find their way, get them comfortable and settled, and introduce them to other hosts to help them grow roots in their new city - just like others did for me.

Interests

Metalworking (welding), building electronics stuff, bike riding, cooking, singing (poorly, loudly, and proudly), sumo wrestling, trying to get a decent haircut in Leiden (still working on this one...)

• cooking
• electronics
• metalworking
• cycling
• wrestling
• swimming
• languages

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Swimming in a sea full of bioluminscent plankton, watching light bloom from us splashing around and waves glowing as they crashed ashore.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've been on a big metalworking kick lately, and I've been following that up with a heavy interest in electronics, particularly installations that use light in evocative ways. I'm decent at welding and general metalworking, and I'm always looking to learn more and share what I can. If you're of a similar mind, we should definitely talk soon.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, France, Germany, Indonesia, Monaco, Scotland, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, United States

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