I am a middle school teacher who likes to take advantage of time off from school to travel. I teach in Connecticut and live just over the border in a coastal community in Rhode Island. I have lived in Bolivia, Brazil, and Vietnam, and have traveled in Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America.

In June 2016, I sold my house and left for a year of travel, teaching, and volunteering in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. I returned to Rhode Island in 2017 and now live in a condo. If you'd like to know more about my year abroad and travels since then, you can see my blog at: http://timothy-flanagan.com/

Please note that I do not live in New York. I have gotten several requests for people visiting New York, but I live three hours from the city. I also prefer to host for no more than two nights at a time.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I started with local Couchsurfing gatherings and met some amazing travelers and hosts. I hosted occasionally over the course of a year and met travelers from all over the world, including two who inspired me to take a leave from my job and travel for a year. Now that I'm back, I want to continue to meet world (and local) travelers, hear their stories, learn from each other and inspire each other.

Interests

I have focused on learning photography during my year abroad and hope to continue learning while back at home. I am always interested in hearing about volunteer opportunities while traveling. I mostly enjoy learning about the world by meeting others.

I've recently become fascinated with Mexico after going there for the first time. I now go whenever I can and can share travel tips.

• photography
• education
• technology
• traveling
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

The music of Brazil left a lasting impression on me during my time there. I always seek out new artists and enjoy discovering new sounds.

I read a lot of middle school literature, but recent adult books I have enjoyed include The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs and Mama's Boy by Dustin Lance Black. Find Me Unafraid by Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner was another amazing read.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I adopted my two sons from Brazil, was a foster parent to several children, and now have grandchildren.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you're a teacher, I can help you out with using technology in the classroom and share other resources.

I will share my experience teaching, traveling and volunteering overseas, including how to plan a year abroad.
If you're interested in adoption or foster care, I have plenty of stories to tell.

Mostly, I'm a good listener, so I'd love to learn about you and where you're from.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Ireland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uruguay, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bolivia, Brazil, England, United States, Viet Nam