CURRENT MISSION

Have fun and explore with passion. Try things out instead of reading or wondering. Put a smile on someone's face and bring out a laugh in every conversation.

ABOUT ME

High energy, chatty, funny. I'm extremely relaxed and easy-going. I enjoy a good sense of humor more than anything else and following the least-traveled path (coincidentally, I also get lost a lot which makes me take the less-traversed path regardless!).

PHILOSOPHY

I like to see what life brings to me. A year ago I was heavily involved in a doctoral program for clinical psychology and had my whole life planned out, but then I realized that I was more of a free-spirit. A 300+ page research dissertation and 6 years of schooling seemed constraining to me. My previous job in Japan set in a different outlook on my life to really explore my potential and opportunities and I've been teaching/traveling abroad ever since.

Sometimes I think that in order to gain control, you have to learn to let go. Oftentimes we are our own worst enemy and we fail before we can even begin.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Making positive connections with as many people as possible through hanging out. There's no better education than traveling and being exposed to another culture. The experiences are priceless and I would like to be a member to receive and contribute to these efforts.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've gone out for lunch, dinner, and sight seeing with couch surfers.

Interests

Aside from the popular traveling and photography, I enjoy kung fu and fitness. Eating is a great joy in my life and I am very adventurous trying to eat things that even move (I ate lobster sashimi with the head still moving around on the plate-didn't bother me). I love just kicking back with a nice drink and talking to people-everyone has an interesting story to tell. Bartending is something I have a passion for as well. It's a fun job and a great way to meet people. Volunteering is also another focal point in my life and I do mentor some of the same students I worked with in an at-risk youth program from a few years ago. I'm no Renaissance man like so many of these outstanding couch surfers, but I can strike up good conversation and laughter.

• culture
• photography
• education
• fitness
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• teaching
• law
• psychology
• volunteering
• sightseeing

Music, Movies, and Books

"Lost In Translation," "The Godfather," "Lord of the Rings," "Kill Bill," "Pulp Fiction," "The Evil Dead," Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Spirited Away," "Goonies," "E.T.," "Indiana Jones," "Shaolin Soccer," "Amelie," "Spiderman," "Terminator 2," "Aliens 2." The Beatles, The Postal Service, REM, Smashing Pumpkins, Incubus, Korn, Stone Roses, Ben Folds Five, Paul Oakenfold, Guns N' Roses, Frank Sinatra, Led Zeppelin, Oasis, Stone Temple Pilots, Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, Outkast, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Stereophonics, Snoop, Dr. Dre, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Kanye West, Frederic Chopin, Linkin Park, Radiohead, Timberland, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nas, Jay-Z, The Game. Harry Potter, Issac Asimov,

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I had the honor of working side by side with holocaust survivors at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles as a docent helping educate visitors from all over the world about the dangers of intolerance and prejudice.

Teach, Learn, Share

Specifically, I can teach you kung fu, fitness, and nutrition. Hopefully my sense of enthusiasm and humor will be infectious. I would like to learn about you and your culture. Take me to places and let me experience activities off the beaten path. A more local, than tourist experience. I have a lot of experience as a counselor so if you are looking for good advice and encouragement, I'll be around but it will be mixed with a little tough love.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Greece, Peru, South Korea, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea, United States

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