A couple of years ago, I moved to Houston from Okinawa, Japan, for work and to be closer to family. I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. I worked with homeless youth in Paraguay and more recently in gang violence prevention in El Salvador. I have been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu going eighth years now and that is more often than not what I do with most of my evenings. I also enjoy playing dominoes or chess as a pastime.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Houston has been kind to me and many old friends of mine have graciously given of their time to ensure that I found my way around town. The city can be difficult to maneuver without some local insight regarding eateries and night life. That being said, I enjoy meeting people and hope that through Couchsurfing I will have the opportunity to be introduced to other more liberal and progressively minded individuals.

Music, Movies, and Books

The last book I read was Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I volunteered the summer after my graduate studies to drop water for migrants in the Sonoran desert with No Mas Muertes (No More Deaths). I am of the mind that preservation of life should supersede geopolitics.

Teach, Learn, Share

Self-Defense (Purple Belt BJJ practitioner)

What I Can Share with Hosts

https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/houston/houston-has-no-problem

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

El Salvador, Japan, Paraguay