I don't take myself too seriously, which is why I have a propensity for sparking up conversation with random strangers; this has sometimes been met with strange looks from friends. Local delicacies, most deserving Oscar nominee, funny shit that happens on the road when you least expect it, the latest political travesty we have to hear about... I'm happy to talk about pretty much anything.

More than anything, I love listening to people's personal stories when I travel, either of experiences locally or on the road. This is an indispensable part of my ongoing education, one that cannot be replicated in a textbook or classroom. I find that the more I challenge my own assumptions about what is "normal," "right," or "beautiful," I become a more empathetic, open-minded person.

I always look to get off the beaten track as much as possible, wanting to authentically experience a place as a local might. I'm also always on the lookout for special events, parties and festivals, but am also spontaneous to a fault. Life would probably be a bit less stressful with a bit more structure on the road.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As a third-culture, mixed-ethnicity kid, I have naturally taken to seeking novel experiences in cultures. This has fueled my love of travel not merely as a voyeuristic nomad, but also as a host curious to live through a guest's stories.

There is no substitute for getting to know a culture and place through a local's eyes, which is why I love this platform. Yes, hostels are sometimes nice, but I much prefer to get to know the nooks and crannies that only someone who lives there might know about.

For now, I'm on the road again in SE Asia, but once I've settled down again, I want to host more folks, especially international travelers who enjoy sharing stories about places and people they've met that have impacted them.

Past adventures on CS include solo surfing and hitchhiking parts of eastern and central Europe for a few months. This period of travel was, without exaggeration, the very best time of my life.

Interests

An ever-evolving and incomplete list: stimulating conversation, traveling, outdoors activities, music (playing and going to concerts), yoga, history, intentional living, dance, philosophy, poetry, meditation, social justice, singing, improv, basketball... and my nerdier side, board and videogames. No shame.

• culture
• books
• poetry
• singing
• concerts
• festivals
• dancing
• cooking
• yoga
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• sports
• teaching
• history
• philsophy

Music, Movies, and Books

FIlm: My favorite recent movie is Ladybird. Others: Samsara, the documentary 13th on Netflix, anything by Wes Anderson (favorite being the Royal Tenenbaums), Birdman, Blade Runner, Inception, the Matrix, Akira, Paprika (another anime), most anything by Miyazaki, The Jungle Book (the original), There Will be Blood (most anything by the Cohen brothers), Buffalo '66. I want to see that new Nic Cage film, Mandy. Looks batshit.

Tv: Nathan For You (if you've never heard of this, please for the love of all that's good check it out), Westworld, Peep Show, An Idiot Abroad, Arrested Development, Cowboy Bebop, Chapelle Show, Key and Peele.

Books: Catcher in the Rye, Thank God for Evolution, Heidegger, Foucault, David James Duncan, Rothke, Walden, Lao Tzu, Zhuang Zi, Harry Potter (ask me about this :)

Music: Chance, Django Reinhardt, Neil Young, early Santana, Fourtet, Odetta, Bach, Pavement, Sam Cooke, DJ Shadow, John Fahey, Nujabes, Bob Dylan, J Cole, Beach House, Bonnie Prince Billy, Noname, Dave Rawlings Machine, Grizzly Bear, The Velvet Underground, Ella Fitzgerald , Miles Davis... in short, it all depends on my mood.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I graduated from college with a written thesis! Does that count?

Also, the volume of travel in my lifetime. I am fortunate enough to have seen about 50+ countries from southeast Asia to Africa, plus most states in the US.

Teach, Learn, Share

While I like to talk about anything, I specifically enjoy discussing philosophy. I'm by no means an expert. I also fiddle around on ukulele and might be able to teach a few chords.

I'm not a very proficiant cook, but I enjoy experimenting and learning local recipes. If you want to be my guinea pig and/or teacher, I'd be happy to try feeding you.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Besides tangible things like cooking, I think(?) I'm a pretty funny guy. I also try to leave things cleaner than when I found them.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Myanmar, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Viet Nam

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