CURRENT MISSION

To expand the ways I see the world

ABOUT ME

Who am I? Good question. Most of all, I am curious and inquisitive about the world. I love to hear stories. I am very hardworking, responsible, and organized, and I also like to challenge myself. I think I'm an old soul, but I also know how to have fun or enjoy a lively conversation.

PHILOSOPHY

"Smooth seas don't make skillful sailors." - African Proverb

I believe that the pinnacle of human experience is the experience of finding, witnessing, imbibing, feeling, creating (etc) beauty in the world. These are the moments in which we are able to transcend our own individual and undifferentiated lives.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've surfed several times now, and am waiting to host!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've had only the most amazing experiences Couch Surfing so far. I've met amazing people, heard amazing stories, and my world view and my experience of people has just grown and grown. It's been wonderful.

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

Interests

BOOKS, books, books, books, books, and WRITING, writing, writing, music, photography, art, linguistics (informally), geography, history, languages...but really really anything that anyone brings into the mix as long as they're passionate about it!

• arts
• writing
• books
• literature
• photography
• beauty
• traveling
• music
• surfing
• geography
• history
• languages
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Books (authors): Alice Munro, William Trevor, Richard Ford, Edward P. Jones, Jhumpa Lahiri, Ann Beattie, Ernest Hemingway,Vladimir Nabokov (Lolita is my all-time favorite book), Lorrie Moore, Sherman Alexie, Nathan Englander, Philp Roth, Marilynne Robinson, Junot Diaz, Cormac McCarthy, Raymond Carver, Bernard Malamud, Yehuda Amichai, Philip Larkin.

Music (musicians): Tallest Man on Earth, Cat Power, Marissa Nadler, Bob Dylan, Fleet Foxes, Beach House, Frankie Rose, The Antlers, Porcelain Raft, Andrew Bird, Cat Stevens, Mariza, The Idan Raichel Project, Laura Marling, The Shins, The Decemberists, Jim Croce, Bon Iver, Beirut, Passion Pit, Keaton Henson, Iron and WineNorah Jones, Smith Westerns, James Blake.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing that I've done is drive down the Western coast of the United States, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I didn't know that there was so much beauty within my own country. There is something awe-inspiring about traveling along the edge of a mighty continent.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can give great book and music recommendations and talk intelligently (I hope!) about art and literature. I can tell you about my world travels, my background, what it's like to live in the armpit of America (New Jersey), teach you Hebrew (it's not too easy), work with you on my French and Spanish, and best of all, I can listen to whatever stories you have to tell me with utmost interest. I certainly want to learn more about the places I visit from a local's perspective, and I can share with you my understanding of the places that I've lived in.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Monaco, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Israel, Poland, United States