CURRENT MISSION

To learn, explore, absorb, share

ABOUT ME

I grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and lucked into several experiences that got me out of the country early in life. Those trips opened my eyes to the world outside the U.S., and I've been hooked ever since.

I like spontaneous, open-ended travel and, for the most part, I've tried to arrange my life so that's always a possibility. I've spent a good amount of time on the road in other countries, and every experience leaves me looking for more. So goes my personality, really; I have trouble sitting still. I love living in new places - the assault on your senses, the challenge of communication and navigation in all meanings of the words, and the ways in which it can open your mind. That's juxtaposed with an almost equal love of home, and the endless process of learning more about the seemingly familiar.

Right now, I'm sacrificing the road and the woods to work on small-scale waste management and energy production, but the next move is not so far away.

PHILOSOPHY

I think it's important to keep learning to learn... and to try to keep your ego out of the way in the meantime. Open-mindedness, kindness, and a laid-back attitude go a long way, too.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Anyone's free to stay as long as I've got a couch to offer, whether you just need a place to crash or want a tour guide who'll show you his take on where he's living. I head to the mountains almost every week to climb, paddle, hike, etc. - if you're game for a trip to the woods, all the better.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I steer away from hotels and hostels... I feel like I miss out on the better experience when I don't meet someone who knows and loves the place I'm at. In all my time on the road couch surfing or just staying with strangers, the feeling's only been reinforced. I've had so many people help me out of so many different types of situations - just looking forward to slowly returning the favor.

Interests

Anything and everything really, but near the top of the list are nature, travel, culture, traveling, rock climbing, music, learning in general.

• culture
• environment
• cooking
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• surfing
• rock climbing
• science
• tourism
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Honestly (and kind of unfortunately), endless scientific journal articles on anaerobic digestion.

On my last few good trips, the books have been God's Middle Finger, The Art of Political Murder, Cradle to Cradle, In the Bedroom, Mama Poc, The Divine Right of Capita, Hocus Pocus, Tipping Point, The Lost Heart of Asia.

Road trip music goes like this: Silvio Rodriguez, Ojos de Brujo, Jack Johnson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Cake, Avett Brothers, Dolly Parton, John Butler Trio, Joe Pug, Morodo, and on... and on...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My most memorable experiences are of times in which I've been completely overwhelmed by a new and strange culture and environment, and of the people and events that have come to make me feel at home there. As lonely and disconcerting as those periods in life can be, I find myself continually seeking them out. Scenes of nature are coming to mind, too - the wind whipping my face on a beach, howling past my ears on a cliff face, or rolling over grass in a storm.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd love to learn anything anyone has to offer, especially if it involves cooking or music. What I know and can offer to teach depends on who you are and how interested you are - science is what I study, rural and international development is what I try to do, climbing, hiking, surfing, and generally playing in and learning about nature is how I unwind in my free time.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Nicaragua, Poland, Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, Netherlands, United States

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