CURRENT MISSION

Figure some things out.

ABOUT ME

I'm pretty laid back most of the time, though I can amp things up when the occasion calls for it. I am passionate about the outdoors and I love to hike, camp, whitewater kayak, snowboard, etc. I don't think I ever want to live in a big city very long, though they're fun to visit. I'm proud to be a native Montanan, but I also love to get out and see the world.

In chaos and adversity, one will always find both risk and opportunity. Take the risk, seize the opportunity.

PHILOSOPHY

You know that moment when you can't make up your mind? When the most massive barrier between you and decision is inexplicable fear? At that moment I say to myself, "F*** it," and I dive in. As a philosophy, it hasn't been wrong yet.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am a human in perpetual transit. I traveled, I went to university, I volunteered at a correctional school for boys for 2 years, and recently I lived in Colombia. Everyplace I go, I end up meeting surfers to socialize and share. My living arrangements haven't allowed me to host in a long time, but I've met a lot of people and made some good friends just by being part of local hangouts and events.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My best couchsurfing experience so far was also my first, in Amsterdam in 2006. My traveling buddy and I were leaving Brussels but still hadn't been able to find a place to stay in Amsterdam, so in an afternoon we set up a bare-bones profile and sent out a plea. We ended up with a very gracious host, Joris, who taught us what couchsurfing really is. He happened to be a lawyer for the city, and I can honestly say I learned and understood more about Amsterdam law in just a couple days than I could have probably learned if I had read the entire book of statutes. Joris was cool, easy-going, and educational, and he inspired us to always look for a couchsurfer.

Interests

I have a lot of interests, most of which are related to the outdoors. I love to hike, climb, snowboard, kayak, ice skate, and just about anything else you can think of that puts me in contact with nature. If I haven't done it yet, I am willing to try it. I love heights, I think caves are cool, and about the only things that really makes me nervous are deep water and sketchy people. Always remember to exercise good-judgment and follow your instincts when couchsurfing, hitch-hiking, or anything else. If you aren't comfortable, just walk away.

• books
• make up
• exercise
• traveling
• socializing
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• snowboarding
• law
• hitchhiking

Music, Movies, and Books

Herodotus and Thucydides Histories were excellent. "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt (RIP) was an inspiring novel in many ways. "The Prophet" by Khalil Gibran is one of the most beautiful poetic pieces I have ever read, though Virgil's "The Aeneid" still tops that list along with Dante's "Inferno". "1984" is eerily familiar, Steinbeck's "East of Eden" had me entranced for some time, and Ayn Rand's "Anthem" was the first book I read that challenged the notion of a common good. There are too many more great books out there to name, but here are a few I am happy to have read.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One of the most amazing things I have seen in my lifetime is the Absaroka mountain ranges of southwest Montana, USA, from the peak of Mount Cowen, a peak that is over 11,000 feet tall. It was a view that made my whole body tremble, and assaulted whatever idea I had previously held of what it meant to call Montana "The Big Sky State"

Teach, Learn, Share

Most important is the sharing of stories, since this is how we as human beings connect and learn to care about each other.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Colombia, United States