Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Charleston, SC, I'm the father of two Beautiful, intelligent and compassionate girls (10- and 5-years-old). My full name is pronounced ah-ZEEK-way, and my nickname, “Zik” is pronounced Zeek. I'm a lifelong learner and educator striving to be the change he wishes to see in the world. I learned Italian while studying in Rome, and Spanish while teaching as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua. I've led experiential learning expeditions for high school and college age travelers to 17 countries on 6 continents, and have taught in South Korea, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Venezuela, Kuwait, Costa Rica, and Colombia. I'm currently teaching middle school math at Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro here in Brazil.

You may learn more about some of the 44 countries listed below and read excerpts from my upcoming travel memoir at my old blog: www.AzikiweChandler.com

Other informative links:

In Living Color Abroad (2021 podcast profile):
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jgVKbWe8kiXVBPCuYkIfu?si=wms3sStwSfmXxz7JTWl47w&dl_branch=1&fbclid=IwAR17j5MpBfjbRHvvE-9bYivSdwEKQHxV__xKNOQvTPdJQM_42oaP_6kC7YY&nd=1

Global Ambassador (2017 podcast profile):
https://soundcloud.com/mase-abroad/teach-abroad-monagas-venezuela?fbclid=IwAR2jOxCr_pszQkcSHIOWBEDs6XBgAWbBO58TSPljnP_xllw6bz-pDWFNWs4

College of Charleston Magazine 2014 profile:
https://today.cofc.edu/2014/06/19/azikiwe_chandler/

Charleston Remembrance Program:
https://charlestoncitypaper.com/the-millions-lost-during-the-middle-passage-are-memorialized-at-a-charleston-ceremony/

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I HAVE been hosted in Ski Country Colorado; Barcelona and Rototom, Spain; London and Rome, to name just a few places

And I met my soon-to-be ex-wife when I hosted her and her friend in Charleston the very first time I hosted using Couchsurfing.org in 2016!

Unfortunately, however, all of this was before the platform was revamped, so there's no record of those encounters (or praise) 😑 but I can definitely put you in touch with a former host if you'd like 😊

I'm on Couchsurfing because couch surfing has been good to me!

I know the best way to explore and really get to know a place is through the people who live there, and I really love meeting and building with like minded world changers!

Interests

• scuba diving
• snowboarding
• soccer
• reggae
• dominoes
• azul

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Alchemist, Autobiography of Malcolm X, The Prophet, Celestine Prophecy...

Music: Reggae, Afrobeat, Dancehall, Neo Soul, R&B, Prince, Motown, Salsa, Merengue, Hip Hop, Champeta, Jazz, Samba

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

1. Jumped with Maasai warriors, Tanzania
2. Witness lions hunting while on safari in Serengeti, Tanzania
3. "La Ruta Negra", Central America
4. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru
5. SCUBA: Honduras, Thailand, Galápagos, Australia, etc.
6. Rototom Reggae Festival, Spain
7. Home Builds in US, Guatemala, Uganda, Bolivia and India
8. Sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica
9. Snowboard Whistler, Canada
10. Carnival, Salvador de Bahía, Brazil
11. Dancing priests, Lalibela, Ethiopia
12. Zorbing, New Zealand
13. Cooking school, Asti, Italy
14. Great Wall of China
15. Bartend in London
16. Study architecture in Italy

Teach, Learn, Share

Azul, dominoes, healthy recipes, yoga!

What I Can Share with Hosts

SO many things (including Origami, a tiny bit of Kiswahili, and healthy meals)!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Kuwait, Nicaragua, South Korea, Venezuela