CURRENT MISSION

To bridge the gaps

ABOUT ME

I'm a recent graduate student, former collegiate soccer player, and aspiring optimist.

Regarding travel:
As a political science and history student, I am so eager to see and experience that which has been such a large part of my studies over the past several years. On a personal level, I am looking forward to the challenges associated with living outside of my comfort zone, as well as the opportunity to reflect upon my own worldview in light of the countless perspectives travel offers.

I love: long conversations over tea, maps, QI, endorphins, campfires, crossword puzzles, folk music, spending time outdoors, soccer (playing & watching!), libraries, jazz clubs, the ocean, red wine, new socks, thunderstorms, and Alan Davies!

PHILOSOPHY

The great Barry Lopez said it better than I'll ever be able to:

“How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one is fully aware of the blood, the horror inherent in life, when one finds darkness not only in one’s culture but within oneself? If there is a stage at which an individual life becomes truly adult, it must be when one grasps the irony in its unfolding and accepts responsibility for a life lived in the midst of such paradox. One must live in the middle of contradiction, because if all contradiction were eliminated at once life would collapse. There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.”

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Unfortunately, I do not have a couch available, but I am usually available for good conversation :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Though I have not yet surfed myself, I have been exposed to the CouchSurfing community through close friends who host frequently. I've met some really great people during my visits with their guests and am always excited to hear of new visitors - I love listening to and discussing with such a diverse group!

Interests

Music, political philosophy, art, religion, culture, nature, history, literature, existentialism, world politics...mostly everything

• arts
• culture
• literature
• wine
• red wine
• clubbing
• politics
• traveling
• puzzles
• music
• folk music
• jazz
• outdoor activities
• soccer
• cartography
• history
• political science
• religion
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Joni Mitchell, Ryan Adams, Belle and Sebastian, Miles Davis, Nick Cave, Beck, The National, Fleetwood Mac, Wilco (I could go on for days)

Movies: Love Actually, Good Will Hunting, The Motorcycle Diaries, Adaptation, Casablanca, Lost in Translation, Annie Hall

Books: The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing, No Great Mischief - Alistair MacLeod, Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel , A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers, Homage to Catalonia - George Orwell

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was living in Washington D.C. when the world was notified of the killing of Osama Bin Laden by US Navy SEALS last year. Though I didn't agree with the celebratory reaction of the general public - the streets of DC, especially those proximate to the White House, were flooded with people within minutes of the announcement (at midnight!)- it was pretty mind-blowing and surreal to be in the thick of it. Raised a lot of questions for me, especially concerning the power of narrative/rhetoric and symbolism in our post-modern world.

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn everything about anything.

I know a little bit about an even smaller amount, but love sharing/swapping opinions, experiences, and perspectives.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Croatia, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States

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