Half-Japanese Island Boy, born in Japan, then bumped around the world with my hippie parents till we parked in Hawaii a while. Now, I'm living in Bellingham, WA, with my awesome kiddo, and exploring the US mainland a bit while I work on being a culturally competent Mental Health Counselor. I love getting to know people, understand their perspectives, what moves them, and experience the joyous awesomeness of life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet people on the great adventure of life, and experience the light they each posses. I now have a legit lifelong friend who hosted me once, and that is awesome.

Interests

Grew up in the Hawaiian jungle, off-grid, and lived a simple, low impact life for a while. Now, I experience the challenge of trying to stay as harmonious with nature as possible while living with the reality and limitations of a consumer based society and trying to enjoy all that life has to offer.

I also really love to get out into nature and touch grass when I can, in just about any way possible. Hiking, biking (road or mountain), skateboarding, sailing, paddleboarding, surfing, what you got?

• music festivals
• dancing
• yoga
• meditation
• cycling
• hiking
• sailing
• buddhist
• social justice
• farming
• simple living
• mental health

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Reggae, EDM, House, Bass/Dubstep, Trance, Rap, Hip-Hop, Trap, Trip-hop, Grunge, Punk, Metal, Jazz/Bossa Nova, cheesy 80's dance music, Funk, Rock n Roll, Indigenous music, new shit I haven't discovered yet - try me!

Books: My guilty fiction pleasures are Samurai and Western novels, though both, especially the latter, sometimes contain themes that are definitely problematic by today's standards, and I wrestle with that a bit. I really love a good observer of the world, nature, and people. Right now, as part of my education, I am reading a TON of counselling and social justice books. I also read a lot of books about Buddhism, spirituality, mythology, relationship dynamics, sex, physical self-care, and Indigenous wisdom.

Movies: I used to consider myself to be a pretty serious movie buff, but I've eased up a bit. I love a good story, though. I used to really be into all the 80's and 90's big name action movies, Tarantino, Coen Bros, Wes Anderson, Spielberg, Scorsese, gangster flicks in general, Guy Ritchie, Luc Besson, Kubrick, and Kurosawa, to name a few. Also love a ton of Anime and Miyazaki. My favorite TV series have been The Wire, True Detective season 1, Trailer Park Boys, South Park, Futurama, GOT, Rick and Morty, Jojos bizarre adventure, Dragon Ball Z, Bezerk, Naruto, and Last Week Tonight is probably the one thing I still consistently watch. I also sometimes like a good calming Nature flicks sometimes, a la Planet Earth.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I hesitate to say one, as I'd say being part of existence is pretty awesome!

But as for a crazy travel story, my mom and I barely escaped an area of Myanmar when there was infighting in 2000. There were no planes or taxis available due to the fighting, and we hiked with all of our luggage several miles to a random airstrip we heard may have a plane we could take. There, we found an old, beat-up cargo plane with bus and car seats bolted into it. While it was getting started, one of the propellers was sputtering and stalling, and the pilot went out and started banging on it with a hammer or wrech or something until it started rotating again 😳 Since it was our only chance to make it out, we kind of looked at each other like, "Are we really doing this? Fuck, I guess so.." It was the most turbulent, scary plane ride of my life, but we made it out alive.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you about Korean Natural Farming, sustainability, Permaculture, Counseling and growth concepts, and some Social Justice topics

I love cooking and feeding people, so this is a potential two-way area of exchange.

I love to share food, dreams, life lessons, travel stories and inspiration!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Friendly, respectful, attentive presence and an impact conscious stay. I love to cook and I am down to make us a meal or buy some food for us while I'm there. I also like hanging out, getting to know folks, share life and travel stories.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, India, Jamaica, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Jamaica, Japan, Thailand, United States