CURRENT MISSION

improve everything

ABOUT ME

I am currently trying to slap together a career in urban planning, which has brought me from my beloved home of Toronto to the new frontiers of Vancouver. Currently working in my first planning job that will last longer than a summer and I'm actually loving it. I'm also getting to know Vancouver better, and loving the city also. It's a beautiful place full of friendly, talented people and a will to make things better.

From 2011-2013, I worked for Air Canada as a customer service agent, which afforded me the unique ability to travel an INSANE amount. Travel has always been a big part of my life and it's pretty much the only thing I spend my disposable income on. I'm always looking for that next fix, even though somewhere like Vancouver is pretty exotic for me already. One of my favourite feelings is parachuting into a new city and having the freedom to just meander and discover. If I'm on a bicycle, even better.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I surf whenever I can - and I look for people that are interested in urbanism wherever possible. As for hosting, I've had a few guests here and there but unfortunately have only really lived in shared accommodation for most of my adult life, and haven't had the luxury of space. With the stability of my job here in Vancouver, a private apartment might be just around the corner!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Couchsurfing really developed alongside my love of travel, and it was integral in allowing it to happen. First of all, it's free. But more importantly, it allows me to cut through everything and zero in on daily life & reality in all these different places. Hostelling, hotels and Airbnb all have their place, but there's nothing quite like a good Couchsurfing experience where you just click. I still keep in touch with a number of people I've met on the site.

Interests

cities, sarcasm, sustainability, fonts, indian food, everything, Sweden, public transit, cycling, Mexico City.

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Network, Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Music: The Hives, Sleater-Kinney, Girl Talk

Authors: Jane Jacobs, George Bernard Shaw, John Steinbeck

TV: Arrested Development, Breaking Bad, Armando Iannucci

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

This is going to sound pretty minor but at the time it was a mindblowing experience. On my last backpacking trip, I stayed in Bled, Slovenia, a small tourist town for a few days. One night after an especially large dinner, I was feeling kind of food-high, and I didn't really have much to do, so I decided to go out for an evening stroll among the fields just outside town. It was an absolutely beautiful night in an incredible place. But I started hearing faint echoes of what I assumed was traditional Slovenian music. I decided to follow the music. It felt kind of like a David Lynch movie or a dream - I was wandering through the countryside trying to track down this elusive sound. Eventually I found a crowd of people around a group of maybe 20 musicians in traditional dress in front of the local arena. After a few minutes, they all went inside for what I assumed was the main event. All I could really do was walk away; but it stuck with me as being an amazing experience.

Also, I once partied on a train in Vancouver. There was sushi, and a DJ, and action figures for some reason. That was fun.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm pretty involved in Canadian politics, and I absolutely love talking about it. So I guess I can give you a primer on the situation here.

Also, cities really interest me. If you come to Toronto, expect me to ask how it compares to your hometown several thousand times. I could seriously talk about cities for ages. But I don't have to. I think we all get stuck in a bubble sometimes, and I joined Couchsurfing to pop mine. So I want to talk about what you're interested in.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominica, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, Venezuela, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United Kingdom, United States

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