Recent Geology grad who has had no luck getting a job (not to mention little interest in the types of jobs available to my education level) and has been staying with friends around the US. Recently found a new resolve to get a Phd in Geomorphology, but I can't apply to programs until October/November, and if I get accepted, won't start until August of 2017. Therefore, I decided to get a year long working holiday visa in New Zealand! However, I've always been fascinated by the Japanese landscape, so I'm flying into Tokyo March 28 and will travel there until I leave to Auckland via Hong Kong in mid June. Hopefully I can get a job picking fruit/maintaining grape vines during the NZ winter and get a place and host counchsurfers to pay back the hosts' kindness. I've been reading up more on how the community is run and it sounds way deeper than i imagined. I'm planning on camping most nights or hostels in big urban areas, but it would be cool to stay with someone on Tanegashima or smaller towns in Hokkaido, though to know what life is like there.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I was curious about how this site worked and was looking to maybe stay with some hosts in Japan or New Zealand on my travels. I'd be travelling alone, so it would be cool to get to know people who aren't just travelers but lived in different regions. Hopefully I can host myself one day but I don't have a stable living arrangement yet. I love meeting new people feeling part of a community. I have a sort of project in my mind where I photography as many micro communities as I can from my singular perspective. I want to live as many lives as possible. Idk if that sounds wierd haha

Interests

Well, I'm a geology student, so I'm really interested in the physical landscape. I like to backpack and camp a lot. Oh, and I love photography. It's great motivation to go out to remote places and makes me feel like I'm creating something even when I'm doing manual labor work (AKA uncreative work) for a living. I'm very open to other people's plans, but I don't like to do things that cost a lot of money (i.e. expensive bars and restaurants) as I'm trying to save my savings until I can get work in NZ. Usually, I just take walks to take photos when I'm not hanging with friends or doing research/work on my computer. I also love playing board games (except Boggle... sorry Boggle fans, nothing personal). I drink at night a few times a week (depending on who I'm with), and smoke (both tobacco and weed) situationally, so I have no issues with others doing that.

• photography
• education
• running
• drinking
• flying
• board games
• reading
• traveling
• backpacking
• camping
• teaching
• geology
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Love Douglas Adams and Haruki Murakami books. Hitchhiker's guide was great, Dirk Gently was even better. Easily my favorite book of all time. I read Egil's Saga once, and it was alright. Don't read novels as much as I ought to. Listen to music for half the day usually. Favorite band is probably Pavement, but I like a wide variety of stuff (mostly 90s and 2000s alternative and electronic bands, but recently been listening to Van Morrison a lot). I watch more Game of Thrones, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and 30 Rock more than movies these days, but I watched Lost in Translation back in High School and it made me really interested in visiting Japan.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once guessed what time it was and was only 3 minutes off.

Teach, Learn, Share

Umm, not sure what this section is for, see below.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Ask me about Geology around your area! or Photography. I like to research the physical history of a place before/during travelling there, and I'm pretty competent in photographic techniques (film not digital). I usually post photos to my Facebook. I can be introverted, so while I really enjoy getting to know new people, I'm not gonna talk your ear off unless I get drunk. Also I'm really tall (6'6" or 2 meters) so I can reach stuff for you.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Japan, Mexico, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States