I'm a semi-recent college graduate taking a gap year. Between school and "the real world" traveling around Europe with my brother. I enjoy experiencing new cultures, especially food and live music. Having studied art and design in school I am always interested in understanding the why behind the architecture of the places I visit, as well as experiencing the art museums of new cities. I have a wide variety of interests and spent the past summer as a wilderness guide in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota, USA so I'm equally at home in nature as in an art gallery.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

My study-abroad experiences in Rome, Italy and Prague, Czech Republic were some of the best experiences I've had for the most part because of the people I met and the friendships I made. It's one thing to experience a place as a tourist, but when you meet people who can show you the true character of their world it adds an unforgettable dimension to your experience. That intimacy and understanding is what I'm looking for with my couchsurfing experience. Not to mention that it comes highly recommended by many of my friends.

Interests

As stated in the about me section, my interests are wide but tend to focus on visual arts, i.e. art, architecture, and design, being in nature, and enjoying authentic food and drink. When visiting a place my favorite things to do are wander the city streets taking in the local architecture, visit the art museums, wander the parks to understand how the inhabitants incorporate nature into their lives, and experience authentic local food and drink. I love trying new flavors and foods that I can't get back in the states.

• arts
• culture
• folklore
• architecture
• design
• dining
• drinking
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• live music
• canoeing
• languages
• tourism
• visual arts
• parks
• lakes
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy many types of music but mostly indie-style music such as, underground hip hop, indie-pop, international lounge, basically if it's good I'll listen to it, although my favorite sounds are people who are doing something new.

I enjoy reading as well, I tend to mostly read nonfiction or philosophical fiction. I like reading books that try to explain why things are the way they are.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

While working as a wilderness guide in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota (a large area of Minnesota/Canada composed of lakes and old growth pine forest) I guided a trip known as the Grand Portage. This trip is sort of a tradition in the region where we pay homage to the Voyageurs (French fur traders in the 1800's) by following a part of their route from inland Minnesota to the fort on the shore of Lake Superior where they des posited their goods for shipment to Europe. The trip encompasses a 95 mile canoe paddle through 15 different lakes and rivers that culminates in a 9 mile portage to Lake Superior. I, along with two fellow guides, led the trip this summer finishing the entirety of the trip in 4 days. It was one of my proudest accomplishments to date.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am always interested in learning about the local culture of a place. Experiencing the differences in customs, languages, and traditions is why I travel, and is the main reason I am interested in couchsurfing. I'm hoping to stay with people who are willing to shares these things with me. In return I will respond with an open mind and open heart, willing to accept what is given and contribute whatever I can along the way, whether that be some particular knowledge I have, or simply a new perspective to share.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Czech Republic, Italy, United States