CURRENT MISSION

To live an examined life...

ABOUT ME

I was born in Hawaii, raised in California, and currently live in Ohio where I am a professor of anthropology at a private university. This position has enabled me to spend nine of the past 17 months abroad in 22 different countries. (I don't "keep score"--and I have nothing but contempt for those who "collect" passport stamps as symbolic capital.) In this capacity, I have, among other things, shot a film about a religious ceremony in Honduras, trained in Muay Thai with national and international champions in Thailand, served as a visiting professor in Costa Rica, and given invited lectures in Peru and China.

PHILOSOPHY

To laugh often and love much.
To win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of young children.
To know that even one life has breathed easier because I have lived. (Emerson)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Based on my positive experiences, I have become something of a "couchsurfing missionary." As such, I am currently in the formative process of making an ethnographic film/documentary about online social network sites with Couch Surfing as the epicenter.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I just found out about CouchSurfing from fellow travelers. It sounded too good to be true, so I had to check it out for myself. As an anthropologist who studies tourism, I have become very critical of the manner in which most tourists tend to experience the same places in the same ways. Obviously, I am always looking for opportunities to break away from these cookie-cutter experiences. So far, this phenomenon of Couch Surfing has (re-)validated my faith in humanity.

Interests

Martial arts, motorcycles, poker, playing pool, drinking beer, etc. Standard guy stuff, I suppose. But I also have a softer, more tender side that most people don´t get to see.

• arts
• documentaries
• beer
• drinking
• motorcycles
• billiards
• stamps
• poker
• surfing
• martial arts
• anthropology
• teaching
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Very eclectic in my tastes. Too many to list here...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The inauguration AND RE-ELECTION of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

UPDATE: One HORRIBLE Thing I've Witnessed is the inaugurpocalypse of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States.

Teach, Learn, Share

These are the fundamental tenets to which I have dedicated my life.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, Mexico, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

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