I'm a professional nerd, currently a poet and musician getting over a break-up with the US Army*.

That took me to Germany, Qatar, and Romania, but now I'm travelling and learning on my own account--I like building bridges more than building walls.

*Long story, but the short version is I joined young, had a six-year commitment out of college, did most of that part-time, and 2 years full-time.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've been travelling all my life. As an Air Force brat, I lived in 2 countries, 5 states, and about 15 houses growing up.

The best way to learn a new place is to dive right in, meet people who live there, and give back in a way that you leave people and places better than you found them.

I've hosted friends of friends and traveling musicians, and been hosted in the same way, and I figured this was a more "official" way of doing it.

Interests

• poetry
• photography
• swing dancing
• music
• art

Music, Movies, and Books

Acoustic folk of any country, whether Appalachian banjo, Delta blues, Gulf oud music, English rounds, or Romanian fiddle-playing. But I do love some good rock and roll, electronic, ambient, punk, choral, and Baroque.

A few favorite movies: Jeremiah Johnson, Hidden Figures, Pan's Labyrinth. And I'll be honest, the Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Toy Story trilogies. :-P

Authors: HD, Flannery O'Connor, Graham Greene, Patricia Lockwood, Robert Frost, Rainer Marie Rilke, Gerard Manley Hopkins, that prolific author Anonymous.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Watched the sunrise from above the clouds in the cockpit of a C-17? Played banjo in an Icelandic cave? Camped out on the Isle of Mull? Hitch-hiked (and picked up hitch-hikers) in Romania? Hiked the 20 miles along the sea-cliffs between Scarborough and Whitby?

Maybe I'm just easily impressed?

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach basic guitar skills (finger and flat-picking) and banjo (clawhammer), smatterings of German, Arabic, Spanish, and Albanian, and a fair bit of Romanian. And, well, English.

I'd love to get better at any of those languages (or any language), as well as learn a bit about sailing and any music that's rooted in where you live!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Banjo music, laughs galore, tips on places I've travelled, and...I could try to write a poem for ya?

Also, I love to cook...from a basic pasta dish or roast meat to vegan curries. I'd love to learn about your cuisine, and I'm happy to share what I know, too.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Jordan, Kuwait, Poland, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Qatar, Romania, United States