Hi! I'm Chynnah (pronounced like the country). I am a traveling photographer and digital artist and
My wife, Noelle, and I live on the road full time in our camper van Io, with our heeler pup, Aries! 🚐 🐕

We're looking to make friends and connect with other artists and folks who are community oriented and committed to growth as humans.

Note: we're both immunocompromised and looking for hosts okay with us sleeping in our van and up for outdoor hangs. We mask indoors in common areas. Appreciate folks who have understanding with this 🙏🏽

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am on Couchsurfing because I appreciate shared experiences with a community rather than closed experiences as a tourist. Knowing a city or a country is 90% knowing the people that live there. I am open to enrichment and immersion.

I got acquainted with Couch Surfing about a decade ago while living in a communal house in Ybor City, Tampa, and we hosted some international folks who brought us a lot of joy and adventure. I've since become a member and have enjoyed meeting folks in Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas while using this platform. I've lived in Florida my whole life up to 3 years ago, and have only really explored the U.S. East Coast.

My top list of places to eventually couch surf is all of Vietnam, Italy, Thailand, Cuba, Russia, Spain, and Ireland. I have roots in Ireland and family I have never met, and my wife has folks in Spain, so these might be my immediate destinations in the next year.

Interests

• dogs
• music festivals
• indian food
• coffee
• japanese food
• mexican food
• painting
• music
• punk music
• classical music
• hiking
• surfing
• international relations
• social justice
• books.
• bands
• health and fitness
• house shows
• middle eastern food
• organizing events
• abnormal psychology

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:

I am really into finding new Bandcamp artists. My favorites to listen to when I am feeling the need for a particular kind of moodiness are postrock bands like Mogwai, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, shoegaze bands like The Cocteau Twins, Some Surprises, home-based bands like Permanent Makeup ( a St. Pete-based band), Underoath (a Tampa-based band), 80's faves like Morrissey, Sonic Youth, Depeche Mode, Sisters of Mercy or Metal like Myrkur or Zeal and Ardor. Lately, I've been on Agnes Obel kick.

I'm a 90's kid so here are also some classics I love: Anything by Aaliyah, Monica, TLC, Faith Evans, The 69 Boyz, Missy Elliot, Mary J. Blige, and Luther Vandross. IYKYK

Film:

I like gothic films, or noir films for the most part. Horror as long as it isn't gory. The real world already has enough of that to go around. I dabble in some romantic comedies but am mostly here for heavy dramas. Some faves are The Departed, Girl Interrupted, Beetlejuice, Fight Club, The Astronauts Wife, Rosemary's Baby, Pride, and Prejudice, 28 Days Later, The Conjuring, Amityville Horror, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, RedDragon (basically anything with Dr. Lecter played by Anthony Hopkins...or anything with Anthony Hopkins, Michelle Pfiefer, Angela Bassett, or Jack Nicholson period).

Books:

My favorites when I'm pondering an existential crisis or the absence of meaning: Kierkegaard. Tillich...Anything by J.D. Salinger, Steinbeck, Plath, or Fyodor D. Sci-Fi: Octavia Butler. Politics: Che Guevarra's Motorcycle Diaries brought me a lot of warmth and inspiration. Aspiring to read more Bell Hooks, Assatta Shakur, and Franz Fanon, and other literary and revolutionary geniuses who had a dream of a world liberated.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I successfully detached myself from a cult. I can share the story with you!

Teach, Learn, Share

I've spent a great deal of my life doing advocacy work, and I try to remind myself every day, that everyone deserves to have their dignity affirmed and respected. We are all entitled to a little understanding even if it warrants either a tightly bound hug or a swift kick in the ass. I believe in hospitality, and I've lived communally for the past decade. If you're considering a model for living communally, I'd love to chat about it. If you've tried it out and had a terrible experience, I'd love to chat about your learnings too.

Did I mention I am a bomb cook? ;) Happy to share recipes or share a meal!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm a photographer, so as a host or a visitor, I am sure to get a shot of you or a meaningful moment during our interactions for you to savor long after I'm gone. You can see my work at afflatusphoto.com and follow me on IG @yeslikethecountry.

I am also an artist (watercolor and ink mostly) and can leave my hosts with a print or two if desired. As I said earlier, I'm a great cook, so I'm happy to share my favorite recipes or share a meal I've made with you, from creamy lemon orzo to Orange sesame Chicken lettuce wraps, fresh ginger cherry scones, or a no-knead bread!

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States