My name is Ben. I'm 28 years old - born and raised in San Diego, California. I work as a flight attendant so I am often on the go, but I hope to become more active again on Couchsurfing and host fellow travelers when I am available. Flying as much as I do and being around so many people, I often come home exhausted and need my recovery time being lazy at home. But when I am feeling up to it, I love to show people around my city. It's very rewarding for me and I enjoy getting to know others from around the world in the process.

Most people would describe me as a very friendly and genuine guy. I am very open-minded and enjoy exchanging ideas and perspectives. I'm gay if that's a big deal for anyone, but I am not looking for anything more than friendship and community from this service. I understand how it is to feel uncomfortable in someone else's home because of false intentions and I hope to never make someone feel that way.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Travel is so important. It fulfills the soul and helps you understand the world better. Stop being ignorant and go see the world for yourself! It's not that scary and see that people aren't so different! I love to help out fellow travelers either passing through or visiting San Diego exclusively. It's really interesting to meet people from all over, hear about what they do, what their goals and passions are, and what made them decide to come visit. It's so easy to fall for tourist traps and not get a real sense of the cities you visit. Therefore, I feel it is important to spend time with a local when traveling in order to bridge this gap. And then of course there is the financial aspect. I get great deals on flights, but it's expensive to stay in a city as well, especially when traveling alone. So I've always been appreciative of past hosts allowing me to stay with them and it brings me joy to be able to give back in the same way.

Interests

Music, concerts, music festivals, travel, aviation, backpacking, trekking, hiking, camping, nature, animals, photography, street art, movies, food, coffee, beer, wine, cards, poker, board games, table games, bowling, soccer, yoga, running, technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, spontaneity, exploring, learning, understanding, growing, living.

• animals
• street art
• photography
• concerts
• dining
• beer
• coffee
• yoga
• movies
• board games
• traveling
• poker
• music
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• soccer
• entrepreneurship

Music, Movies, and Books

My music tastes are very eclectic, ranging from deep house to heavy metal, pop, reggaeton and more. I like what I like and don't feel the need to categorize everything. I am not a big fan of country music however. Concerts and music festivals are one of my favorite past times.

My new favorite movie is Coco; Pixar did such a wonderful job on this movie. My favorite comedy is Bridesmaids. Some other classic favorites are Forrest Gump and Almost Famous.

I'm not a big reader, but I enjoy self improvement books and every once in a while, I will get lost in a good mystery novel. One book that is such a quick, easy read and has changed the way I live my life is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I would recommend it for anyone and you're welcome to borrow it while you stay with me.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

After graduating college, I bought a one way ticket to Ushuaia, Argentina (aka: "the end of the world") and spent a month backpacking through Argentinean and Chilean southern Patagonia. From there, I went to Buenos Aires, where I worked as an intern at a tourism agency for three months. It was wonderful unique experience to live here and get to know the city on a deeper level. Also, I was allowed the flexibility to do some side travel from here including a visit to Iguazu Falls and the beaches of Uruguay. As an American, it's fairly unheard of to just go travel by yourself for several months in South America. It was an extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can definitely point you in the right direction for all points of interest in San Diego: parks, beaches, hikes, trails, neighborhoods, local eateries, bars, clubs, etc. I can provide you with some local know-how such as when you can expect rush hour traffic during certain times of day as well as advice if you plan to make a visit to Tijuana during your stay. More than anything, I can share good vibes and a warm welcome to San Diego, America's finest city.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am a simple guy. I don't have a lot of skills per se, trades to teach, or money to offer, but I'd be happy to share some interesting stories or advice about places I've been. Most would agree that I'm a pretty nice guy to be around. Furthermore, I understand what it means to be a super respectful and pleasant guest so I would hope to never be an inconvenience to you during my stay. I am very courteous and conscientious, especially when in someone else's home. I always clean up after myself and maintain communication so you know when to expect me to arrive and depart.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Qatar, Spain, Thailand, United States, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, Costa Rica, United States