CURRENT MISSION

Learn Chinese, and explore the rock music scene here in Taiwan.

ABOUT ME

Traveler, musician, experience sponge. I am hoping to see as much of the world as I can before I get too settled. I did a long trip through Europe in 2014, and another in Asia in 2016. Been living in Taipei since 2018

PHILOSOPHY

Make others smile and listen to good music!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have only hosted once, but it was a great and somewhat spontaneous situation. Since being in Europe I have met many amazing people through couchsurfing. I think it is one of the best online communities in existence, especially because it translates into real life socializing, as opposed to some other types of online communities. I have since become a regular member of the San Diego CS community and have made many awesome friends!

The best experiences I have had while traveling have always been through couchsurfing. Hostels are great too, but you never have the same kind of unique perspectives and friendships that are made though staying with locals. I have been a few people's first surfer and I always try hard to make a good first impression for them haha. Because I want this community to continue and not get ruined like so many other good things on the internet.

Many people have noted the recent changes to couchsurfing and I think that I agree that it is not quite the same anymore. However, I still plan to continue using it until another viable alternative comes along because the experiences I have had on CS have been life changing.

Interests

My education is in politics and international affairs, but my passion is music (I am a guitarist, drummer and singer and have a band back home.) I am also into history, cooking, jokes, good people, deep conversations.

Music, Movies, and Books

Film: Paul Thomas Anderson, Tarantino, Scorsese, John Woo (HK stuff only), Wes Anderson, Coen Brothers, Denis Villeneuve, many more...

Music: Many kinds. Mostly rock/jazz/roots. Some of my favorites: Rx Bandits, anything with Anthony Green, The Dear Hunter, At the Drive-In/Mars Volta, Glassjaw, Sublime, RATM, Tool, Animals as Leaders, Savages, Good Old War, Minus the Bear, Thursday, New Orleans brass bands, The Dustbowl Revival, Punch Brothers, and so many more. And of course the classics like Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin etc. Recently have been getting really into math rock bands like CHON, maps & atlases, LITE, Toe, Elephant Gym (大仙體操） and others. Also Tuxedo.

Books: History, cyberpunk, the classics, House of Leaves, The Witcher series, Sam Harris. Mostly I read non-fiction.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Jumped off cliffs in Lake Havasu, saw George Carlin live (R.I.P.), met the most amazing people who saved me while I was lost at night in Paris. Sang harmony in a long echo-y tunnel in Prague with 2 of my best friends. Climbed several mountains and had a transformative experience in the Swiss Alps. Witnessed and filmed a right sector rally in Kiev. Jumped in the freezing cold Black Sea at night to harvest mussels in Odessa. Watched the sunrise from Fujisan, carried mikoshi at Sanja Matsuri. Witnessed the time immediately after the king's death in Thailand.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you English and some Chinese, guitar, drums, and maybe about American and international politics.

I would love to learn languages. Also, I am a culinary adventurer and am very interested in learning new recipes and cooking techniques. I can teach you what I know as well.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can dazzle you with my knowledge of geography, razzle you with my James Brown impersonation, and sazzle you by singing a song. I'm pretty sure that I invented the word sazzle. Also, I'm a pretty decent cook.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States