Hey! My name is Austin and I am from Arizona in the US. From a young age I have had a passion for traveling, and with each trip this passion grew. After spending a year living in varias parts of Latin America, I decided that it was time to make a bolder move. I currently live in Madrid and work teaching English.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

About a year ago, I heard about Couchsurfing and immediately signed up. Having lived abroad I learned that the jewel of travel is not only the new location and culture, but the people who come along with it. Couchsurfing lets you not only travel to new places with the help of these people, but also brings these people directly to you! There is not much else out there that can do this phenomenon.

Interests

My interests range from outdoor, physical activities to lazy days inside. I have played soccer my entire life and enjoy competitive table tennis matches. On sunny days I'm usually trying to hike up to the tallest viewpoint I can find. However, I thrive on those rainy days where I coup up, make some tea, and hang out at the house or a local café.

• anime
• traveling
• piano
• hiking
• soccer
• table tennis
• tea

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Listing your favorite music is always a hard task. If I were to name some of my most listened to genres, I would say that I love jazz, hip-hop, classical, electronic, and anything that mashes up these genres. And as for my music guilty pleasure... I probably listen to way too much reggaeton.

Movies: I am not a huge movie watcher, but I love films that dive deep into one person's mind (Her, 7 Pounds, etc...). As for my guilty pleasure here, I have an obsession with cheesy, brainless, action films. Everything from "The Expendables" to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"... don't judge too much :P Like I said though, I don't watch too many movies. If I do sit down to watch something, it is usually some sort of anime (don't knock it till you try it!).

Books: As part of my degree, I had to read a lot of Latin American literature and ended up falling in love with magical realism. Books from this genre have been my usual read, but when they get too dark I will lighten the mood with books from authors like John Grisham, Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, etc...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hmm... an amazing feat that I have done. The story that comes to mind is when I traveled to Cusco, Peru with the intention of seeing Machu Picchu. This trip was a two week vacation from my studies in Lima, and ended being some of the most exhausting, yet rewarding traveling I have done. It started with a bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, where the usual traveler takes a bus to Aguas Calientes (the town at the base of Machu Picchu). Instead of taking the train, I received some horrible directions from a local (probably messing with me), and took another bus that dropped me off in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, I saw the train tracks that led to Aguas Calientes and walked alongside them, by myself, for 30k until I reached the town at nightfall. Exhausted, I went to sleep immediately, only to rise up early the next morning and be the first to summit Machu Picchu Mountain that day. I have never been so beaten in my life, but that view from the top of the mountain of the rolling clouds, beautiful mountains, and the ruins of Machu Picchu below me is one I will never forget.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I would say my #1 attribute I can share with hosts is my openness to new things. Not only am I pretty easy going, but I will always be respectful of my hosts rules and traditions. I never visit a place without first researching the area and learning at least a little bit of the language. Although self proclaimed, I'd say I am pretty good company if you want to explore a new part of your city, or just show off your favorite local bar and grab a drink :) I'm always willing to share whatever skills that might be of interest too (a quick Spanish or piano lesson). Most of all, I hope that I can share a positive experience with my host and create memories that we can both take with us.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, Peru, Spain, United States