CURRENT MISSION

Japan, 5 cities in 30 days.

ABOUT ME

I was apparently, perhaps even involuntarily, born to move. Started out in California, the family moved to America's Midwest when I was two and we've moved at least once every two years since. No I'm not a military brat. My dad's a teacher, he was following the money... at least I think...

For the past five years or so I've had an absolute obsession with Australia and after a brief stay in New York I FINALLY made it out here and it's absolutely fantastic, couldn't have asked for a better experience. I'm staying.

Current Projects involve getting a student visa so I can attend bond university in Queensland next year. As an American (non-commonwealth) I need to be offshore to get the visa and processing. that'll take about a month. I've always been curious to see Japan so that's where I'll be spending my processing time. But who can go to Japan and just sit and wait for a visa? I'm going to enjoy it! I've got 5-6 cities I want to hit within 30 days, determined to see more of japan than most of the locals even have. (i'd also love to speak the language so if anyone living in Japan is awesome at teaching, I'm awesome at learning.)

PHILOSOPHY

Seek out thyself, and the rest will find you on it's own.

You have to understand that learning is paramount. I don't mean school, that's the most minor element of it. I mean udnerstanding that being wrong is not a bad thing. Because you will learn just as much from being wrong as you will from being right. Moreso in most cases.

You are a transferable medium. You can imprint yourself on people that you meet, speak with, or travel with in no more than mere conversation and when you separate from that person they will carry you to wherever they go, taking you with them. Knowing that your influence in the world is involuntary... it's almost completely outside yourself... do everything you can do make that influence your very best for the world. And you'll be blessed enough to see it affect your world in the same way too.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Admittedly, this is my FIRST TIME EVER couch surfing. With an online network I guess. I took a three week trip from New York to Los Angeles about a year ago and all I DID was couch surf getting from one place to another. But everyone I stayed with was either family or a lifetime friend. So this is actually... relatively new.

I'm no stranger to strangers though. When i got to Australia I hitched from Sydney to Brisbane, and I haven't actually lived on my own (without other travelers since)

I am hugely resourceful and definitely a community contributor. I love this idea, a large network of travelers helping travelers and as soon as I'm done traveling: I DEFINITELY have a couch!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far, I've neither hosted nor surfed (not here anyway. But all my life I've had people cruising in and out of my various residencies for whichever reason to I'm no stranger to it.) As soon as I get some legitimate couch surfing experience under my belt you can bet this section will be updated.

Interests

Who on this site doesn't like travel? We'll go with travel for starters. I've decided to designate my life into 4 quarters. 1-20: childhood. 20-40: Working (blech). 40-60: Retired traveling. 60-80: Yelling at kids to get off my lawn.

I'm a huge fan of australia. It's always been my home... Its amazing. That said I've also a massive yet more reserved interest in Japan which i'll be seeing shortly (yay me!)

I write CONSTANTLY. In english (but I'm learning! I can get by in spanish. I want to learn all the romance languages, japanese, and Mandarin. Won't take any time at all right?)

I read CONSTANTLY. (see books)

I'm a graphic designer, IT expert, and street knowledge MASTER. Drop me anywhere on the planet with no money and no contacts and I'll make it work. And work WELL. Doesn't mean I wouldn't prefer a couch... ^_^ but i'll always survive.

• books
• design
• graphic design
• traveling
• homesteading
• surfing
• teaching
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Victor Hugo - Les Miserables. Tom Clancy, Michael Crieghton, Bryce Courtenay, John Grisham etc (there are HEAPS

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I moved to New York knowing no one and having only 500 dollars, and I made it.

I moved to Australia knowing no one and having only 3 dollars, and I made it.

I waved to Morgan Freeman on a motorway, and he waved back.

I have talked more than two dozen people out of suicide.

and I discovered the meaning of life.

Teach, Learn, Share

PEOPLE ARE AWESOME. This is NOT what my parents taught me. The homestead gave me the same old 'don't talk to strangers, don't look at strangers, don't go out at night, and be AFRAID of everything.'

If it weren't for strangers, I'd be dead by now (see AMAZING THINGS DONE OR SEEN)

I'm almost certain that given the right people it's entirely possible to see the entire world... more or less for free. (DO NOT TRAVEL WITHOUT MONEY. TAKE MONEY. AND DEFINITELY DONATE TO YOUR HOSTS IF YOU CAN SPARE IT. GENEROSITY SURVIVES BECAUSE OF DEMONSTRATED APPRECIATION)But don't be afraid to try things out. Hitching, surfing, meeting new people.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia