Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (Zulu saying, A person is a person because of people)

Both:
We recently moved from Washington, DC (our nation's capital) to the state of Colorado. We both grew up in South Florida. In between Florida and DC, we both lived in the Kingdom of Swaziland (eSwatini) for two and a half years volunteering with the U.S. Peace Corps. We value human connection and enjoy hosting travels or meeting local people as we travel.

Brian:
Brian is an old soul who enjoys conversation over a quiet dinner. He spends too much of his time watching, listening to, reading, and memorizing American sports news. If he teases you, it means he likes you. He enjoys the outdoors, wine, and coffee.

Shari:
Shari is a small human who does not like to wear shoes and loves spicy foods. She is driven and loves whatever work she does. Shari has a green thumb and enjoys tending to her garden. Shari is an avid reader, hates scary movies, and has dabbled in photography and blogging.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

We always look forward to meeting people from all around the world, and from our own backyard. We have hosted and surfed in a couple dozen countries across 4 continents and have enjoyed every moment.

We enjoy seeing who shows up and we love showing them our home.

“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” - Anthony Bourdain

Interests

Brian:
Sporting events, local food and beer, skiing, rock climbing, new places, friends.

Shari:
Hiking, camping, picnics, festivals, theater, anything outside, wine and whiskey.

• arts
• culture
• theater
• photography
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• coffee
• gardening
• news
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• skiing
• sports
• basketball
• american football
• volleyball
• soccer/football
• plant based living

Music, Movies, and Books

Brian:
Brian's favorite movie is The Count of Monte Cristo, which is why he had to visit the Chateau d'If whilst visiting Marseille. He also enjoys biopics such as A Long Walk to Freedom, The Man Who Knew Infinity, The Imitation Game, and On the Basis of Sex.

Brian likes any music he can sing along to. Some favorites include John Mayer and Maroon 5 but his go to karaoke covers are John Legend and Ed Sheeran.

Brian enjoys books that some say are for kids, like The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, and once he even read a book on economics.

Shari:
Shari is terrible at sitting still through movies, recalling celebrities, and remembering crucial plot details. She would rather listen to National Public Radio (NPR) than most music. She read 100+ books while living in Swaziland, and she loves to talk people's ear off about whatever book she is reading at the moment.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Living in a rural village in the Kingdom of Swaziland (eSwatini) for two and a half years. Once, we hitchhiked by plane across the tiny country.

Experiencing life with fellow CSers while surfing for 4 months through Europe.

Camping on safari in the African bush, with no fences between us and the Big Five. Woke up with elephants right outside our tent!

Watching the sun rise over Sossusvlei in the Namibian desert.

White water rafting and hiking through the Grand Canyon.

Skiing in the Alps of Switzerland.

Seeing the awe-inspiring work of Gaudi at La Sagrada Familia.

Hiked to Machu Picchu.

Road trips across the USA - along the CA coast and across the Southwest were our favorites.

Travelled with Shari's mom to Greece to fulfill a bucket list dream for her 60th birthday - it was amazing!

Teach, Learn, Share

We can teach our surfers about Colorado, including the traditional sights and the best-of-the-least-known local spots and events. As new Coloradoans, we are still learning ourselves, which makes us even more excited to explore the area with our surfers.

We want to learn about other cultures (other countries or just other U.S. states), how to cook a new dish, learn new words or phrases in other languages, or participate in new activities.

We can share some of our favorite American traditions, including s'mores and corn hole. We want to share food and conversation with the couch surfing community.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Our home, our culture, our experiences, and hospitality.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Lesotho, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Swaziland, United States

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