I've spent the last 6 years living in Japan but have recently become interested in connecting with nature (and the trees)! I started gardening two years back and want to learn more about permaculture, herbalism, and holistic medicine. I would like to reconnect with my artistic side. I used to draw and play the clarinet (currently looking for inspiriation). Now I'm hoping to learn a new instrument, maybe stringed.

When it comes to traveling, I have nothing against short stays, but I feel that there is much more to discover about new areas that a 3 day trip simply doesn't do justice to the location. I try to leave no trace physically, so I always make sure to clean up after myself like a respectible guest in any home.

I'm half American and half Swiss. 大阪と栃木に住んだことがあるので、関西弁でも話せます。I got a Japanese motorcycle license so that I can ride across Japan. バイクで日本を一周したいと思っています！ I currently teach English. 現在は英語の教師として働いています。I try to enjoy life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I travel a lot and it's more satisfying to stay with locals who love their country and to learn from/engage with those with similar hobbies. I love to see people captivated by their interested and perform. I have much to learn from others, and am eagar to learn from those who are inspired. The inspiration tends to rub off on me, and I like to think myself the better from it. I'm very gratiful for all the interactions I receive throughout my journeys.

Interests

I have too many interests, so I'm not a master of any but I can do many things. I like trying new things and visiting new places.

趣味が多いけど、どれでも上級だと言えません😅 とりあえず新しいことをやたり、新しいところに行ったりするのが好きです！

• photography
• meditation
• gardening
• jiu jitsu
• philosophy
• travel
• motorcycle
• herbalism
• holistic medicine
• hitchhike
• druidry

Music, Movies, and Books

I love comedy and philosophy

Books:
The Power of Now
A Tale of Two Cities
The Republic
The Alchemist
村上春樹 Murakami Haruki (recent)

Music:
EDM (Glitch Hop/Future House)
The clarinet and bass

Movies:
Rush Hour (1 and 2)
Dragonball ドラゴンボール
Ghibli ジブリ映画

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went on a 6 day hitchhiking trip around Chubu and Kansai. Mt. Fuji to Kanazawa to Kyoto to Nagoya and back.
6日間の旅で中部を一周しました！富士、金沢、京都、名古屋、富士山のルートを取りました😄

I've been to all three of "the famous scenes" of Japan!
日本三景の全部見に行った！

Miyajima 宮島 ✓ 6/10/15
Matsushima 松島 ✓ 7/3/18
Amanohashidate 天橋立 ✓ 3/11/19

I've been to all of the famous gardens of Japan
日本三名園に行った

Kenroku En 兼六園 ✓ 7/20/18
Kairaku En 偕楽園 ✓ 3/2/19
Kouraku En 後楽園 ✓ 3/2/22

Currently I'm trying to visit every prefecture in Japan. So far I've been to 45/47 prefectures. I don't count prefectures I only passed through.
日本にいるうちに全部の県に行ってみています。🗾今のところは45/47都道府県にも行きました。ただ通り過ぎた県が含めていません。

北海道 ✓ Hokkaido
青森 ✓ Aomori
岩手 ✓ Iwate
宮城 ✓ Miyagi
秋田 ✓ Akita
山形 ✓Yamagata
福島 ✓ Fukushima
茨城 ✓ Ibaraki
栃木 ✓ Tochigi
群馬 ✓ Gunma
埼玉 ✓Saitama
千葉 ✓ Chiba
東京 ✓ Tokyo
神奈川 ✓ Kanagawa
新潟 ✓ Niigata
富山 ✓ Toyama
石川 ✓ Ishikawa
福井 ✓ Fukui
山梨 ✓ Yamanashi
長野 ✓ Nagano
岐阜 ✓ Gifu
静岡 ✓ Shizuoka
愛知 ✓ Aichi
三重 ✓ Mie
滋賀 ✓ Shiga
京都 ✓ Kyoto
大阪 ✓ Osaka
兵庫 ✓ Hyogo
奈良 ✓ Nara
和歌山 ✓ Wakayama
鳥取 ✓ Tottori
島根 ✓ Shimane
岡山 ✓ Okayama
広島 ✓ Hiroshima
山口 ✓ Yamaguchi
徳島 - Tokushima （通り過ぎた Passed through）
香川 ✓ Kagawa
愛媛 ✓ Ehime
高知 ✓ Kochi
福岡 ✓ Fukuoka
佐賀 - Saga （通り過ぎた Passed through）
長崎 ✓ Nagasaki
熊本 ✓ Kumamoto
大分 ✓ Oita
宮崎 ✓ Miyazaki
鹿児島 ✓ Kagoshima
沖縄 ✓ Okinawa

Teach, Learn, Share

Language:
I made a club in my university days to teach both English and Japanese. I wrote my graduation thesis on the cultural differences between Japan and America.
大学時代に日本語部を作り、アメリカ人と日本人が言語と文化の交流できました。卒業論は日本とアメリカの文化の差について書きました。ですので、今まで色々学んでこれからも学びたいと思います。よかったら、学んだことについて話します！😁

Health:
I started digging deeper into health and nutrition in 2021. I studied up on micronutrients and different types of fats, I'd say Vitamin D is my favorite vitamin, and magnesium is my favorite mineral. I try to avoid vegetable (seed) oils, due to heating the process which turns them rancid and unhealthy.

Clean air and water, as well as exposure to sunlight and nature can take us a long way.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can speak and teach English and Japanese.

I love deep conversations and hope to enrich the life of the host as he/she enriches mine through our share of knowledge, whether it be about culture, philosophy, language, travel, or whatever!

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United States