CURRENT MISSION

Balancing academic and family lives

ABOUT ME

We are a Jazz drummer/composer (Josh) and a professor of musicology (Alison), living and working in Cedar Falls, IA. With two small children, our home can be chaotic, but loving, friendly and fun. We are liberal, spiritual, tolerant, and enjoy being friends with all kinds of people. In 2007-8, we lived for 10 months in Erlangen, Bavaria where our son was born.

PHILOSOPHY

Do your best, and keep a sense of humor. Try to remember that live is made up of moments, and to recognize what is beautiful and sacred in each moment.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting and hopefully traveling more when our kids are bigger.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Hosted Kendra Borgen in Erlangen in May 2008

Surfed with Thomas & Nicole in Preetz, Germany in July 2008

Surfed with Lizbeth in Copenhagen in July 2008

Hosted Jason & Tujia in June 2009

Hosted Bonnie in July 2009

Hosted Lu in August 2009

Hosted Isabelle and Peggy in August 2009

Hosted Clark and Esperanza in August 2009

TOOK A 2.5 YEAR BREAK FROM HOSTING

Hosted Lauren and Derrick in February 2012

Hosted Dawn in March 2012

Surfed with Eva in March 2012

Interests

Our interests are in listening to and playing music, raising our children to be thoughtful, compassionate and independent people, community-building, sustainable agriculture and development, yoga, gardening, cooking and sharing dinners with friends and neighbors. Oh yes, and Star Trek...

• cooking
• yoga
• gardening
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• agriculture
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Alison's movies: Some Like it Hot, Little Miss Sunshine, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Spirited Away...

Alison's authors: Dr. Seuss, Russell Hoban, William Steig, Beatrix Potter

Alison's Music: Chant, 15th century chansons, Eastern European liturgical and folk.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The home births of our two children.

Teach, Learn, Share

We are respectively specialists in medieval chant, and Jazz and other improvised music. We enjoy teaching, and cooking for people who love to eat.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Germany, Japan, United States

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