CURRENT MISSION

Eat as much kale as possible.

ABOUT ME

I grew up in Oxford, where I ran barefoot through the streets with ragamuffins, until I found out my father was trying to destroy God, at which point I embarked on a journey that would take me through magical lands, into the underworld, and eventually lead me to true love.

Wait, that's actually not a summary of me, but of one of my favorite literary characters. However, it is true I was raised by atheist vegetarians. At one point I hated the idea of God, but now would call myself something of a spiritual seeker. This journey has taken me through magical lands, to be sure, although many of those visions of paradise are in my own head. And the underworld? I haven't yet had anyone close to me die.

PHILOSOPHY

I think if we could all learn and cultivate deep empathy for one another, society would completely transform.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Navigating new spaces, currently. My newest spot if Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I will be working with a youth leadership organization that empowers people to improve their communities through sustainability and social justice. I've also got grad school on the backburner - counseling psychology. But I think I need to grow some more before I can take that on.

At the base of it, love is what guides my life. That and chocolate. And breakfast burritos. Love, though, is the foundation for all that I do, and whatever I'm currently engaged in school-wise, work-wise, activity-wise, clock-wise, it's all geared towards making this world a better place for all of us.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Although I have surfed couches twice in the SF Bay Area twice (for 1-2 months at a time), I have only used this website to do so once. And that was in Ireland. My friend and I surfed the neatly made bed of a goat farmer.

Interests

Singing. I'm just getting into this.

Social-political commentary of movies. I was a film major, after all.

Massages. It's a passionate hobby of mine. Just ask and you'll receive.

A few sports - soccer, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball - but sadly, I've had recurrent ankle injuries and am on a long-term hiatus from the first too. Beach volleyball is a savior.

Listening. I intend to work as a therapist, so that works out well.

Meditation. But boy, what a battle it can be! I'm able to do about 45 minutes now without inordinate suffering. I think the big goal on the horizon is a 10-day retreat in January.

• animals
• cats
• singing
• breakfast
• chocolate
• yoga
• meditation
• movies
• magic
• atheism
• sports
• soccer
• volleyball
• psychology
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Movie: Children of Men
Music: Will You Be There, by Michael Jackson
Book: The Dispossessed

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sunrays slanting through the blinds on the carpet, coating the back of a cat in golden stripes of light.

"El hombre vive en el tiempo, en la sucesión, y el mágico animal, en la actualidad, en la eternidad del instante."

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach a few little things about bodywork, basic acro yoga poses, mindfulness meditation, active listening, oppression and anti-oppression, the card game Magic the Gathering, and how to make a good kale salad.

I would love to learn how to sing well, how to make sauerkraut, a foolproof recipe for amazing chocolate chip cookies (I swear I can't get it right), and more about anarchism.

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Spain, United States