CURRENT MISSION

Top Secret

ABOUT ME

I grew up the middle child in a small town in south Alabama in the United States. I'm one of the least judgmental and most laid back people I know. I enjoy wining and dining and talking about the world. At the moment I work several jobs (tour guide, editor, translator) and stay incredibly busy, since I want to pay off all of my student loans (which will be paid off within the year), and then, afterwards, I plan on making a documentary. I know what it is about and have all of my details choreographed, and should start filming sometime this winter, but I typically don't like discussing it with people, since I don't like either encouragement or discouragement. I operate under the assumption that as long as I know what my goal is, and as long as I work independently towards that goal, I will remain happy, even if I never reach it. I believe much of our postmodern angst comes from indecision, and the availability of numerous options simply breeds anxiety about the correct path. Therefore I keep one goal in mind, and as long as that goal isn't compromised (something I feel third-party encouragement or discouragement inevitably does) then I will remain happy. That's a very long-winded defense of my reticence, for which I apologize.

I drink a lot. I smoke a lot. I am a voluminous reader. I walk 15 miles a day. I have no pets. I'm extremely sarcastic.

I like to think that I am one of the most deeply content people on Earth. That may not be true, but I appreciate those around me and how fortunate I am, and try not to take anything for granted.

I never sleep.

I went to school in Philadelphia and studied Literature, History, and Philosophy. I moved to Rome in early 2007 with no plan other than having a good time.

I'm still here.

PHILOSOPHY

Buy me a beer and we can discuss in greater depth...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I don't participate a lot anymore. I've used the website in the past to host people and to find people to host me, but lately I have fallen off the couchsurfing map. I'm trying to make more of an effort now though. Especially since I have a bit more free time and want to start traveling again.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I surfed in Berlin, and I think that's why Berlin is one of my favorite cities I've been to. Getting to know people and make friends in a city is incredible. I've also hosted people from several countries and always had a good time.

Interests

History, Philosophy, Art, Film, Literature, that sorta gabba gabba.

• pets
• arts
• literature
• documentaries
• dining
• beer
• partying
• drinking
• traveling
• backpacking
• history
• languages
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

The last movie I saw in the theater was "Terminator Salvation," which I'm pretty sure I forgot as soon as I walked out of the theater. The last movie I saw in the theater that had me thinking about it for the next few weeks was "Waltz with Bashir." A movie I like to pop in on a rainy day is "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead." Favorites would be hard, though I took a course in Italian cinema, so I really like some Italian movies. Brazil seems to be producing a lot of good movies lately too.

The last fiction book I read was, "The Corrections," by Jonathon Franzen. It was pretty good, but miserably depressing.

The only band I've been listening to for 10 years now without losing interest is Radiohead. There have been a lot of bands in between, but they're the only band that consistently keeps me hooked. Other bands lately include Man Man, Songs: Ohia, and TV on the Radio. My roommate is in a famous Italian rock band called Vanilla Sky, and I sometimes help them translate their songs, so I get their catchy, pop-punk songs stuck in my head a lot too, though they wouldn't be my first choice in a CD store.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Uhh... I spent a summer backpacking alone across Europe. That was pretty neat. However, when I look at some of the stuff other people have done I feel like my adventures are pedestrian. I see that as a challenge. I travel all the time and can fit all of my possessions on my back. I'm one of the luckiest people on earth to have the lifestyle that I do.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a pretty encyclopedic knowledge of Rome.