My name is Alex Rivkin. I'm currently on a gap year before heading to Yale University next September. I spent the last fall in Paris studying Political Science and French Literature at L'Institut Catholique de Paris and traveling around Europe with friends. This spring, I worked a variety of jobs to help keep the costs of my journey across the globe low. I worked on a farm in Lourdes, worked reception at a hostel in Montréal, and will be working in a Safari Park this August in South Africa. Between these amazing work opportunities, I've roadtripped around New Zealand, motorbiked through Myanmar and SE Asia, and visited friends across the USA from New York to Chicago to California.

Traveling is a huge passion of mine. I am endlessly curious when it comes to new cities, new people, and new cultures. I am really lucky to have had some amazing travel opportunities, and I have visited 6 continents and over 30 countries. To me, there is no excitement on earth like hopping on a plane and heading to an entirely new place, with a completely unfamiliar culture and history to explore.

I'm a super friendly dude who loves to meet new people and make new friends! I'm very easygoing and find it very easy to adapt to different environments and learn the most from every experience. I'm very respectful of personal space and different cultural preferences and make an effort to quickly learn the rules and practices of new places.

I'm really excited to see who I meet through couchsurfing, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm just wrapping up my gap year before university with a final swing around Europe. Couch surfing is a perfect way for me to meet people from a great diversity of cultures and really experience cities from a uniquely intimate perspective. I'm excited to make great new friends and learn a lot from the people on this site!

Interests

Music (classical, alternative rock, popular), Eating, Traveling, Reading, Learning new languages, Politics, History, Philosophy, Meeting new people.

• books
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• surfing
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite bands: Stromae, Marina and the Diamonds (Marina Diamindis), Of Monsters and Men, Taylor Swift (guilty pleasure), Two Door Cinema Club, Walk the Moon.
Favorite Movies: Monty Python Movies, The Social Network
Favorite Books: Paris - The Novel (Edward Rutherford), The Shadow of the Wind, The Iliad, Beyond Good and Evil
Favorite TV Shows: The Office, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, Avatar the Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I stayed with a friend in Palestine the day after staying with a friend in Israel. The contrast was amazing, but even more amazing were the similarities between these two funny, smart, and charismatic young men who were divided by a separation wall.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good humor, a few rounds of drinks, and stories! I can help with any English practice. Also an expert at defrosting frozen pizzas (no other culinary talents to speak of)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, France, United States