CURRENT MISSION

Meet unique people

ABOUT ME

Person

My claim to fame is that I brought the art of autobiographical storytelling over improvised music to a hippie commune in Virginia.

I'm a creative person who does not live on a hippie commune in Virgina but who does like pursuing random interests such as storytelling and llamas and playing Latin jazz piano and making funny faces with children. I think the word "quirky" is fitting- I've traveled to Ontario to try out a God helmet, thrown an epic Two Minute Party, made a fake backstage pass so I could meet the host of This American Life, and ran a failed experiment scanning individuals' brains during mystical experiences. I am very open to others' beliefs and like to change my own beliefs when it looks like they're wrong. People have told me I'm a genuine person, and that makes me happy.

Career so far

I'm doing website quality testing. Also, I'm learning what website quality testing is.

Before my current gig, I co-founded a start-up focused on community learning. Before that, I was in a Clinical Psychology PhD program at the University of Pittsburgh. I got my Master's and then called it a day, decided I wanted to do internet stuffs instead of being a psychologist, straight up.

PHILOSOPHY

Obsessed with evidence and empirically testing everything

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I host Couchsurfers, surf couches myself, and attend Couchsurfing events in Pittsburgh.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Same as previous question. I host Couchsurfers, surf couches myself, and attend Couchsurfing events in Pittsburgh. I especially enjoyed Couchsurfing across the USA in 2008.

Interests

Storytelling, psychology, samba, llama

• arts
• partying
• coding
• music
• jazz
• piano
• psychology

Music, Movies, and Books

The Believer, Danilo Perez, Miguel Zenon, This American Life, This American Life, did I say this American Life?, Radiolab

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

For two summers I mentored a child with mental retardation. We made up songs and activities together, and kind of had our own communication code. Anyway, we had a blast and I loved every day of it. It was amazing.

Teach, Learn, Share

At one point I started a website, CommuniTeach, that helped people teach and learn with one another for free, just like the Couchsurfing vision. It actually didn't catch on though. Onto other things now.

But still... I can teach rock piano, web development, Adobe Photoshop, experimentally testing any claim, brain imaging, and some Brazilian drumming.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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