I'm happiest on a beach, a boat, or in almost any other way, a body of water.

I usually enjoy the journey as much, if not more, than the destination-- walking, driving a motorbike, riding a bicycle or boat, taking a train, bus, or plane-- as long as I can look out the window!

My family are my best friends, and though I love to leave, my home will always be wherever they are.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Reality>Authenticity

"Authenticity oversimplifies and excludes. It assumes an unchanging, homogenous culture trapped in a premodern past. It ignores the diversity, complexity, and dynamism within the country. It ignores the parts that are developing, globalizing, modernizing--yet at the same time, equally representative. Authenticity is a box into which the traveler crams what he wants to see, while ignoring the complexity of reality. It is both distorting, and lazy.

Let's throw the box away. Appreciate all the diverse sides of the country without having to claim that any part is better. Let go of the preconceptions of the culture we might have internalized from guidebooks and mass media. Don't label. If we spot a 'foreign' or 'commodified' practice, instead of calling that experience 'inauthentic,' let's try to be more nuanced. Attempt to understand how this practice came to be. How it interacts with existing practices and people. How it might have been, or will be, changed, assimilated or rejected. Embrace messiness.

If we do so, perhaps even Khao San Road can teach us something about Thailand."

(David Sze)

Interests

Learning through travel, and everything that entails: friendship, solitude, love, photography, art, architecture, fashion, music, language, history, nature, cooking (a lot), eating (even more), reading (especially when accompanied by coffee and sunshine), writing (see: reading), creating (friendships, friendship bracelets, etc.), thinking (but not too much), talking (probably too much), listening (probably not enough), laughing (loudly and never enough), drinking (not just alcohol! but also, alcohol!), dancing (terribly), singing (terribly), running (slowly), walking (quickly), swimming (pretty much any time any place), hiking (sweating), sleeping (under the stars), playing (sports, games, practical jokes, etc.), generally just being alive, I'd say...

• arts
• culture
• writing
• singing
• architecture
• fashion
• photography
• dancing
• cooking
• coffee
• running
• walking
• drinking
• crafts
• gardening
• boating
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• backpacking
• sports
• boxing
• swimming
• communications
• history
• beaches

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Quit my job, left my apartment, packed a backpack, and hopped on a plane to Bangkok.

Teach, Learn, Share

My tangible skill set is pretty limited, I'm embarrassed to say. I am a native English reader, writer, and speaker and am happy to teach/practice English (including the bad words, hehe) with you and your friends and family. I can teach you to cook, albeit everything-but-the-kitchen-sink style. I can teach you to take pictures, but I ain't no Ansel Adams. The one thing I know I can do is help and/or join you in whatever you enjoy doing... Gardening? Arts and crafts? Ultimate frisbee? Count me in!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Friendship and a couch to stay on whenever/if ever I have a couch to share again!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belize, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Myanmar, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States, Viet Nam