CURRENT MISSION

Getting Shanghaied

ABOUT ME

Going on three years in China. Been traveling or studying abroad for as long as I can remember--can't imagine any other way!

I'm finishing my MA in philosophy, I love playing music (trumpet and harmonica, flute), reading, running, cycling, roughing-it, and switching perspectives on life as fast as I can grasp them. I'll conversate all night with a thoughtful person, yet can't hide my bordem with small talk. I've lots of pictures of landscapes and architecture, but very few of me in them. I'll write pages for a friend, but wouldn't dare start a blog, and I've found self-descriptions synthetic, and writing them like chewing aluminum foil coated with sacharine frosting...hopefully my friends have more to say.

PHILOSOPHY

ridendo dicere severum

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Even though I've had many friends stay with me, and take every opportunity to help a fellow vagabond, I can't say that I've 'hosted' people. Friends have stayed with me, of course, as they do when on the road, but never someone I've simply come across online. Certainly found myself crashing with random travelers or offering a spare place to sleep to someone new, but usually only after making friends with them. I've never taken a look at a profile online and had to ask myself whether I should trust this person..frankly, kinda strange. I'll warm up to it I'm sure.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've spent many nights on floors, couches or in spare bedrooms, out-back on the porch, in a tent behind police stations in Taiwan, nights on a yoga mat in the sand, and on a bench in a hostel lounge, but only recently became officially part of the CS community...maybe should of joined earlier.

I have recently, through other friends on CS, ended up as a guest in a CS host's home. And I believe everyone of them ended up a friend. I'd like more of these CS peoples in my life, these friendly strangers.

Interests

life. All of it.

• writing
• architecture
• cooking
• yoga
• running
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• trumpet
• cycling
• boxing
• teaching
• emergency services

Music, Movies, and Books

Who reads anymore, really

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Woke up in a dream once--that is, I realized I was dreaming.
(I'll add more to this later...)

Teach, Learn, Share

Dedicated students of any craft are welcomed to be my teacher.

I'm a certified ESL teacher, I'm aiming at a PhD in comparative philosophy (currently pursuing MA), I'm a pretty decent boxer, I know some basic Tai Chi and Wing Chun, I can cook (mostly pasta and American breakfasts), I can play some woodwinds (not great), I tended bar for years as an undergrand and know way too much about mixing spirits, aaaaand what else...I used to have a decent hook-shot, but its been awhile.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, New Zealand, Taiwan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, China, Mexico