Philosophy, Politics, and Economics student from a tiny, woodland village in Wisconsin, USA. Did a semester abroad in Chengdu, China, in 2015. Came back to Asia to work as an English tutor in China and Hong Kong. Hobbies include reading, eating, drinking, jiu-jitsu, and the occasional last minute adventure. But I don't know if any of that is especially relevant to this "about me" section, because that might not be what you're really interested in. You're probably interested in Couchsurfing, right?

Well, I really love Couchsurfing.

Traveling has been one of the most rewarding, and redeeming, experiences of my life. I've not had many opportunities to host, as I've not really been settled in anywhere long enough to do so yet, but when I'm older I certainly plan too do so. Traveling, and couchsurfing in particular, has really taught me that every person is a unique world unto themselves, and that every home is unique little layer of the larger world we share. Peeling back those layers one at a time, and potentially making lifelong friendships in the process, is a tremendous experience and one for which I am extremely grateful. I have learned so much and become so much a better person for it, and I hope to continue that pattern and pass on the good fortune of doing so later on.

I'm not sure how deeply people read into the descriptions here, but I'll add some more thoughts. I tend to be described as very "centered" or "even-keeled". You'll find that, while I am very passionate about global affairs, social justice, things like that, regular day-to-day life seldom rattles me. I never shout or get outwardly angry, at least not easily, nor, admittedly, am I likely to burst out with happiness or any other emotion, and I think that this inclination to stoicism is kind of what defines who I am more than anything else. That's not to say I'm always serious; I am still a big fan of good humor and good fun, of course :)

If you are reading this as a potential host, please note that, unless in dire circumstances, I am not the type who is just looking for a free hostel or airbnb. I love to meet people, and if you are the type of host who is interested in getting to know your guests, I will be ideal for you. And if you are the type who prefers to host the aforementioned type of traveler; that's fine too-- honestly. While I would no doubt value your company, I understand that your business is your own, and I swear not to be intrusive.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Why not? It is such a great privilege to be able to travel the world, let alone to explore it in good company. Couchsurfing is an opportunity to do the latter. The experiences you can have and the friendships you can build through this platform are among the most valuable artifacts a person could ever find. In the past, I joined Couchsurfing almost out of the necessity that many financially-unstable college students and recent graduates have, but now that I can afford a hotel room, I still greatly prefer the opportunity to travel with a companion and stay somewhere with character. And hey, saving a few bucks never hurts ;)

Interests

I have some interest in just about everything I've ever heard of. I love "boring" stuff like international economic policy and theoretical physics, as well as really cool stuff like video games and heavy metal. I grew up outdoors and love hiking, camping, mountaineering, spelunking (if you are a spelunker please message me immediately. We have a lot to discuss.) In the past, I've done a little improv comedy, which would be very interesting if I were actually funny. I played sports in high school and still love to practice Jiu-Jitsu and Wrestling. Plus I really love watching football and mixed martial arts. I would be a foodie, as I really love to eat and drink, but I don't exactly have a discerning pallet, except when it comes to craft beers and cheeses.

As a white, rural, American, I am very self-conscious and feel somewhat obligated to say that my personality is hugely shaped by my education and traveling experiences. I understand that there is a stereotype about people who look like me and come from a Trump state like Wisconsin, but please please PLEASE understand that I do not embody that stereotype. This is starting to feel like a wordy tinder profile, but I needed to include that somewhere.

• literature
• chinese food
• politics
• traveling
• socializing
• outdoor activities
• sports
• martial arts
• american football
• teaching
• philosophy
• study abroad
• mountains
• everything

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm not really a huge fan of anything over anything else, honestly. I love all artwork as a process and a craft, but that doesn't lend itself to the kind of inspired appreciation that many of my friends who are big fans of a certain style seem to be. That said, I do like a very random assortment of everything. With music, I have a few favorite bands that I've listened to for a long time, like Tool, Deftones, and Rage Against the Machine. In broad strokes you could call me a metalhead, because if I listen to music, that's mostly what I listen to, but I also really like a lot of classic and modern rap. Although I do think popular music has gotten better since I was a kid (my older sister was a big Brittney Spears fan in those days) I likely cannot name most of the popular songs and artists of the last 5+ years.

An interesting caveat is that I LOVE live music of almost any kind. All of my favorite bars in the world (and I've been to quite a lot of bars) are live music bars. Whatever the music is, even if it's in a language and from a cultural background with which I am wholly unfamiliar, and despite my total inability to relate, I am completely enamored with the passion and artistry I see-- er, hear-- from musicians. If you are reading this as a potential host, and there's a live music bar near you, please let me know.

I'd say that I'm more into movies than music, I suppose. Seemingly at odds with my boundless positivity, I really love movies and TV shows that don't necessarily have a happy ending. (People tell me it's because I'm a Pisces. If you know anything about astrology, please help me understand that connection) I love classic and modern horror movies. Anything with poignant commentary on the "real" world, be it cinematic or documentarian. I studied a little bit of film in college, which I do think helps me appreciate, say, Darren Aronofsky or Wes Anderson movies, which dwell a little more on the artistry than the entertainment. That doesn't mean I dislike a good, vacuous superhero blockbuster from time to time, however.

Of course, I'm a netflix man of the modern era. I've been riding the Rick and Morty spacecar since day one. I love Bojack Horseman and Arrested Development, but Flaked was trash.

I read a lot. I like old, nerdy philosophy books. Kierkegaard, Shestov, and Dostoyevksy dominate my reading list now. Kuhn's Structure of the Scientific Revolutions has probably influenced me the most of any book I've read. I like to read a lot of the Atlantic, the New Yorker, New Republic, and the New York Times. If it means anything to you, Steven Pinker is probably my favorite active writer.

They should also list video games in the prompt. I'm a huge RPG fan. I grew up on Diablo II and Morrowind and I still love both franchises. I think the Souls games are the overall best video games ever made. My biggest addictions have always been strategy games, classic Civ and AoE have consumed so many hours of my life. Also, I'm always ready to sit down and play some Mario Party or something.

Also I listened to Hamilton and now I'm (a little too) into Broadway musicals, so, there's that I guess.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was so lucky to join a month long monastic retreat in Taiwan. I don't call myself a Buddhist, but the very serious personal, philosophic, and religious engagement I got to have with the tradition during this month, which included a week of reflection in total silence, was legitimately life changing. The appreciation I developed for meditation, self-discipline, and compassion, which has stuck with me, was really amazing.

Teach, Learn, Share

A lot of people I meet-- domestic and abroad-- seem fascinated by life in the American countryside. If you want to get to know what people are really like, including and aside from the hateful, bigoted crowds of red hats that you see on TV, I'm a good guy to talk to.

I'm also a TEFL/TESOL-Certified English teacher, and have been teaching kids and adults in various capacities for about two years, but I can definitely use more practice. In all seriousness, if you are looking for a tutor, I do consider myself very capable of helping anyone with their writing and speaking skills. Maybe more importantly, I've studied a great deal of logic and rhetoric, and I think I can play a good interlocutor to help people teach themselves about whatever it is they want to know.

I want to learn about anything and everything. If anyone has any skills, thoughts, or literature recommendations to share, I'm very interested. If anyone happens to be an expert in any subject, I'm especially intrigued. I do my best to ask good questions.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I tell jokes and have some cool stories. I love to eat, drink, etc and would love to share a meal. If you've got time, the first round is on me.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Hong Kong, United States