Hi! I’m Aidan. I am new to coach surfing, recently graduate from college with a degree in history. I got the Thomas J. Watson fellowship, an award, that allows me to do my own passion project for the year around the world. My project, titled “History off the Books!” explores different forms of public history, history for the people, that is non-textual-based. I plan on going to Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Senegal, and New Zealand, maybe more along the way too!

In Sweden, I went to Skansen to look at living history, in the Netherlands I plan to work with Odeuropa, though smelling the past, in Italy, I want to exam how VR is used for archaeological sites, in Hungary, I plan to intern at monument park, in Senegal, look at oral history and tradition, in New Zealand, work with a local artist and in China I got to do historical documentary interveiws and in Japan I look at historical reactment thorugh ritual.

In each country, I should be there for a couple of weeks, and ideally, I am looking for someone I can share dinner with (and I am happy to pay for groceries)

My Instagram is 21stcentury_historian ( am behind in posting)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to explore history in different areas of the world, and I want homestays in order to see a different side of the city and expose myself to new ways of living and culture. Also, people are super interesting, so why not meet someone new! When I couchsurf, I get to see what day to day life is like in whatever country I am in.

Interests

• socializing
• history
• historic sites
• historical places
• gayfriendly
• talking with people
• historical monuments
• queer culture
• historical reenactment
• history and culture

Music, Movies, and Books

My shows are Avatar The Last Airbender, Bojack Horsemen, Patheon, Inside Job

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

During my first day in China, I got to meet a higher-end governmental official who was the translator for Deng Xiaoping during the first day in China, it was for a historical documentary interview and I was shock on how open he was

During my study abroad in Botswana, I stayed in a rural homestay in the village of Manaya

Teach, Learn, Share

I would love to talk about history and tell tales of our travels, board games are always fun to! I am also a huge an of maps

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share a meal, company, and conversation!

Countries I’ve Visited

American Samoa, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Botswana, Canada, South Africa