Hi my name is Colby! I grew up on a farm outside the small town of Centerville, Texas where my family has farmed and ranched on the same land since the late 1700s. I am no stranger to hard work or having fun while doing it. I love family, sports, history, music, photography, videography, great food, any big adventure, and, of course, travel.

I am an extrovert that loves people and having a good time, but don't shy away from some alone time since that's how I recharge. I am almost always up for meeting new people, trying new things, and most of all enjoying the qualities of life like great food, big adventures, deep conversations, and quality time.

What can I say, I love the nations and the people that fill them! I travel often, mostly to Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Spain with my Travel Company, www.GardnerTours.com, but I have traveled to around 30+ countries.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love to connect with locals, learn their passions and experience their culture first-hand. I always love welcoming travelers in my home, whether on the farm in Texas or in Georgia... and although I'm not a "local" I also love showing people my favorite places where I work overseas.

Interests

I am a traveler who loves to introduce others to my favorite spots, especially those I frequent because of the people in those places. I am a foodie, loving the proper mixtures of taste to perfection – therefore I love to cook. I am a history nut. I enjoy learning new languages, experiencing new cultures, and seeing life through their eyes. I am also a photographer and videographer, documenting everything I do overseas.

• arts
• culture
• photography
• cooking
• history
• travel
• food
• nature
• adventure
• learning languages
• videography
• playing guitar
• meeting new people
• cigars
• adventure sports

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Folk (ex: Josh Garrels), Texas Country (ex: Kevin Fowler), Jazz (ex: Cuban), Alternative Rock (ex: Third Eye Blind)

Movies: Historical (ex: Saving Private Ryan), Comedy (ex: Tommy Boy), Action (ex: Avengers), Documentaries (ex: 180º South)

Books: Biographies/Autobiographies (ex: Heavenly Man by Brother Yun), Self-Help (ex: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss), Health (ex: A More Excellent Way by Henry Wright), Travel (ex: Old Havana in Your Hands) and Historical (ex: anything on war, important historical figures, etc).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have hiked El Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. That's one of the most incredible things I've done.

Teach, Learn, Share

I used to be a secondary school teacher (special education) and coach (football, powerlifting, track & field) in Texas. I enjoy learning about others' passions and walking a day in their shoes. I enjoy sharing my heart and experiences with people too.

Teach: Photography/Videography, History, Physiology/Health/Exercise
Learn: Italian, French, New Cultures, New People, everything above in the Teach section
Share: Stories (I love to share stories of travel, home, etc) and Memorable Moments

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am an easy-going traveler who has a high value for honor (I enjoy hosting people too) and learning the people and the place where I am at the moment. I am low maintenance and don't require much to enjoy life. I enjoy adventure, things off the beaten path, and the good story over great food!

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Vatican City State, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cuba, United States