CURRENT MISSION
21/06/2016 update:
It is with a bit of a heavy heart that I make my exit from Kazakhstan. I have loved it here (apart from some administrative parts), but I want to go back home to spend time with my granddaughter before she gets old enough to want to tell me to bugger off.
I'll be back.
cheers!
My current mission is to continue my exploration of Kazakhstan, its people and its visitors.
ABOUT ME
Nonsmoker.
I am a science teacher with decent people skills (oxymoron, perhaps??). I am currently feeling much more relaxed about being here, since this is my second year in Shymkent, but living in a central Asian country for my first international teaching experience has made for some interesting adventures. I have been in Shymkent, KZ since 01Sept, 2014, so I'm beginning to know this amazing area. I'd love to share what I can.

PHILOSOPHY

I am here to learn and perhaps share what I've learned with interested people.
I believe in accepting all people wherever they currently are.
I try to live my life as I think most people should, but I would never dream of telling anyone how they should live their life! People can make their own decisions just fine! (I hope that's 'leading by example')

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've loved hosting, particularly English-speaking, though all are welcome. My favorite experiences are those long conversations, either in my kitchen or in the many fine pubs in Shymkent.

I'm a slow learner of languages, but I'm taking classes in Russian and Kazakh with the hope that if I keep trying, something will sink in. My two years of college French are very rusty, but I still understand a bit.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm still just getting started, having only hosted and never surfed myself. I'm hoping to change that soon, with my eye to nearby Tashkent and Bishkek.

Interests

I love cultures, a big reason I chose Kazakhstan as my first international teaching job. I particularly enjoy outdoor things, camping, hiking, biking, walking around town. Now, if I could only find a good whitewater rafting river here...
I also have an interest in performing arts and look forward to seeing what Shymkent has to offer. The opera here isn't bad, and the plays are interesting, to say the least!
I happen to be crazy enough to commute about 7km each way by bicycle in Shymkent (one of maybe 20 bikers in a city of almost a million people!) If you've ever been here, you know the reputation of drivers here. The locals use stronger language than "crazy" to describe me, but coming from Portland, Oregon, (the Amsterdam of the US) I figure every city has to start SOMEHOW! Bicycling is the answer to SO MANY world problems.

• arts
• performing arts
• walking
• pub crawls
• opera
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• whitewater rafting
• biology
• chemistry
• teaching
• languages
• physics
• science
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

Sometimes I wish I would take the time, but not right now... Favorite old movies: Waking Ned Devine, The Gods Must Be Crazy, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ok, I really liked Conan the Barbarian, too...
Just read Unbroken. Pretty good read, facinating story.
I love music of all kinds. Really

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Took a teaching job in Kazakhstan with no prior experience outside the northwest corner of the US.
I've also taken a raft down some amazing rivers, but the most amazing thing is being the dad of two great adults and granddaddy to an amazing little girl (with a US state named after her)!

Teach, Learn, Share

As a teacher of Chemistry, Biology and Physics, you just have to ask. But if you get me started....
I love to learn about how different people get from one place to another. I'm developing an interest in bicycling great distances around the globe, say across China.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Some fiery Chemistry demonstrations, perhaps? Or philosophy of politics in America? hmmmm....?

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Netherlands, Scotland, Ukraine

Countries I’ve Lived In

Kazakhstan, United States