CURRENT MISSION

Movement and service and inspiration, and now teaching.

ABOUT ME

Who?...Some guy named Matt, Matthew, Matti, AquaMan, Crichy, Crichton. Who has a commitment to engaging his (global!) community. Who loves yoga, technology, and percussion, and math! Who’s favorite new recipe is steamed fish. And since being in Samoa I've gotten to like the corned beef (especially if it is in a melted cheese sandwich). One who has written a poetry book. Who has gone from electrical engineering, to AmeriCorps, to YMCA, To Peace Corps, to math teacher. Who has traveled to Zimbabwe and Finland (three times!) Who has been a church small group and Sun Magazine discussion facilitator. Who thinks this Peace Corps thing will be a cool awesome delicious adventure ( and it certainly was). Swimming in the ocean is awesome, missing tennis and power yoga, drum circles, and hiking. And having a kicking time watching hot pink and orange sunsets--mmmm those were good memories.

I believe in the spirit and power of the young person—I work with kids, teens, and young adults—I hope the spirit never dies. I believe “older people” can have spirit too.

I believe it is important to know other parts of the world. I want to understand another culture intimately, to use my skills (technology education and youth development) to strengthen communities—wherever they may be.

It will be important to have the ability to relate to other cultures in the future—as the US becomes more and more culturally diverse. I also think this might be a good experience for leadership development.

one poem example since being in Samoa:
Shooting star
Shooting star over South Pacific seas
Straight and bright
Cutting through darkness
Guiding the journey with ease

Colorful paupau cuts through
Crystal blue water
Ocean bound for bigger fish

To feed its people
Growing, playing, loving, living.
Under the stars shooting bright.
Matt Crichton
11/12/08

I put most of all about me in mission and description section...I don't really know what else to write. If you have any ideas let me know. OK..here is some more.
My blog about samoan adventures:
http://mrcpeacecorps.blogspot.com/

my blog with adventures back in the USA
http://mrcmain.blogspot.com

I like to write/type some phases from things I read. Here are some phrases from the University of Portland Alumni magazine (summer 2008):
Pray that we might have the courage to rage but not surrender to the rage.
..because we believe, we really do, that forgiveness is stronger than sin, and mercy is the one thing evil cannot defeat.
“Singing is a necessary human expression, like laughing, crying, talking.”
“there’s a great joy in celebrating life…”
To engage in the miracles that are present each day “but a beholder want,” as Chesterton says.
Believe me, it is not easy to maintain a dignified stance when you are waving Piglet at your class.
Dancing and right living would bring back the buffalo and restore the Indians back to their original strength.
Do we really want to know more about middle-aged white guys?
All wars are fought by boys.

Some quotes I really like:

With passion pray.
With passion make love.
With passion eat and drink and dance and play.
Why look like a dead fish in this ocean of God?
Rumi

My storyteller’s creed:
I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge—
That myth is more potent than history.
That dreams are more powerful than facts—
That hope always triumphs over experience—
That laughter is the only cure for grief.
And I believe that love is stronger than death.

If life is to be lived only for what is pleasant||
But not dangerous, entertaining, but not difficult||
Profitable, but not extravagant||
A world of self protectiveness and self regarding||
A world in which the eye is always on the self’s most immediate interests||
Where not too much is ever put at stake||
If life is to be lived that way, what kind of life is it?||
Gale Brook Burket||
11/21/06

But don’t be satisfied with poems
And stories of how things
Have gone with others.
Unfold your own myth,
Without complicated explanation,
So everyone will understand
The passage
“We have opened you”
ILLUMNIATED RUMI
Coleman barks

PHILOSOPHY

I live my life to bring joy to others and help them if I can by using my skills and what i Know. Movement, service, inspiration sums up what I try to do.
a smile; a hug--very under utilized in our world today.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I recently got married, so I can't host right now. If we every have a house, it would be great to host. Our current place is too small.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have been couch surfing while in the Peace Corps. Not recently :(

Interests

Yoga, swimming, reading, poetry, drumming, technology, education, health, new people, drawing...oh and cooking..which I don't get to do much of when I'm living at the school in Samoa, but I've done a lot much more of since returning to the USA.

• fish
• culture
• books
• poetry
• dancing
• education
• cooking
• breakfast
• cheese
• yoga
• drinking
• technology
• reading
• blogging
• drawing
• cycling
• fishing
• hiking
• surfing
• tennis
• rugby
• swimming
• business
• teaching
• engineering

Music, Movies, and Books

movies...what dreams may come, sweet november,Frequency, Titanic, amalie, DragonFly, Kpax, Waking Life, Powder, 6th Sense, river dance.

music...rush, rusted root, karsh kale, enya, yanni, Thievery Corporation, norah jones, eagles of death metal, mirah, Krishna Das, Jim Brickman, George Winston, AfroCelt, Genesis, Point of Grace, Billy Joel, Maddona…
electronic/ambient, classical, good jazz, anything with good drums/rhythms.
A good friend commented recently that I have a very eclectic taste in music.

books...the Bible, Alchemist, Built to last, celestine prophecy, Crossing the Unknown sea, Dipa ma, Essential Rumi, Illuminated Rumi, Little Prince, Meditations from the mat, Poetry home repair manual, soul of rumi, Warren Buffet way, Winnie Pooh Management.

Before coming to Samoa, I read only non-fiction, but since being in Peace Corps I’ve read some very good fiction: To Kill a Mocking Bird, Beloved, Snow falling on Cedars, A Trip to the Stars, The bluest eye.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

seen...sunsets in Samoa. the "ah ha" moment when someone learns something new.
done...sweet downhill mountain biking in Colorado, USA. Seeing my blue starfish friend almost every time I swim in the ocean here in Samoa. Deep feeling of peace and stillness after a very good yoga class. How about climb up a steep waterfall and jump into the abyss?

Teach, Learn, Share

teach...I teach computers and can maintain and troubleshoot computers pretty well. but if you want to know more about anything else I've mentioned in other sections, just shoot me an email. I also teach yoga. I recently got certified to teach math.

learn...i will always be learning about kids, and math.

share...makes the world go around.
http://mrcpeacecorps.blogspot.com/

I also like to cook: secret spaghetti sauce, steamed fish, farmers breakfast. Right now I use a lot of middle eastern spices.

What I Can Share with Hosts

yoga, drumming, math, cooking, stories. my poetry.

Countries I’ve Visited

American Samoa, Australia, England, Finland, New Zealand, Samoa, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Samoa, United States