I'm currently studying computer science at university in Ottawa, Canada's capital. I previously took year off of school to work and travel in New Zealand, Vietnam, SIngapore, and Australia. I like learning new things and it's always interesting to hear about how people live in other parts of the world. My favourite part about traveling and other cultures is the food.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing sounds like a great way to meet cool people, and travel on a budget. I had a really hard time finding places to stay on my travels that weren't a hostel, and in fact didn't have any luck at all finding a couchsurfing host. I'd like to be able to host someone here at home though.

Interests

-Learning about new things and expanding my horizons
-Computers
-Reading
-Fitness
-Outdoor stuff

In the "languages I'm learning" section I put German. I haven't really even started and can only speak a few words, but I'm a first generation German-Canadian and I've wanted to learn the language for a long time now to help me understand my heritage.

• acting
• dining
• fitness
• drinking
• boating
• technology
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• sailing
• sports
• swimming
• computer science
• languages
• mathematics
• science
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

My favourite music usually comes and goes pretty quickly. I'm constantly looking for new artists and downloading more. A few of my favourite bands are Said the Whale, Tokyo Police Club, and MGMT. I usually prefer indie rock and lots of different electronic stuff.

I don't watch many movies, especially while travelling, so I don't really have a particular favourite. A few recent watches I enjoyed were Her and Edge of Tomorrow. I have a "To Watch" list longer than my arm.

I try to read a book every week or two. Right now I'm working my way through a very long "To Read" list. I try to alternate between fiction and non-fiction. Fiction is great for expanding your mind and giving you new ways to think about important issues, or just having some relaxing "brain-candy", but I like learning about stuff from the real world too. Libraries are some of my favourite places; they're full of limitless knowledge and endless possibilites of what you could do with it.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Top three coolest experiences of my life:

-Crewing a tallship on the Great Lakes for two weeks. Learning the ropes (literally), acting as a night watchman, swimming out of sight of any land or other ships, sailing through the Welland Canal in a thunderstorm. A fantastic adventure and something I still haven't totally topped.

-Competing in the 2013 IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships in Szeged, Hungary as a member of Team Canada. I picked up the sport in early 2012 and ended up trying out for the national team as a "sure why not" kind of thing. It was one of the most rewarding things I've ever done, the training was brutal but the country and competition were spectacular, and I came home with a few medals.

-Leaving university to travel New Zealand. When I enrolled in university it was mostly due to pressure from my parents and peers. Making the decision to withdraw was incredibly difficult for me to do. Making the decision to travel to New Zealand on a gap year instead of re-enrolling the following September seemed crazy. But I've already met some amazing people and done some amazing things and I'm only half done. I've grown massively as a person and this has been one of the best decisions of my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I don't have much to teach or share except for an open mind and a love of discussion and debate. I'm eager to learn about anything you might have a passion for.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Travel stories, thoughts and ideas, drinks and good food. I do my best to be a good houseguest and pay back hospitality.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, Hungary, New Zealand, Singapore, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, New Zealand