CURRENT MISSION

finish PhD, experience adventures in the wilderness, play board games, learn French

ABOUT ME

Great communication skills and conflict resolution skills. I've been trained as a facilitator and a community mediator. I've lived in intentional community for eight years.

I much prefer to cook my meals with local organic foods. I haven't had a car since I moved to Victoria in August 2010. Before that I drove a car on homemade biodiesel for a couple of years. I made the biodiesel from waste vegetable oil from the back of a local restaurant. Even before that I drove a car that ran on straight waste vegetable oil from the same restaurant. Now I bicycle and take public transit.

I would rather travel by trains than by planes. It takes longer, but I've meet interesting people in extended train trips, too.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe we are a part of the Earth, not apart from the Earth. I'm conscious of my footprint, and can generally see the beauty of the universe in a stone.

I believe that we're spiritual beings here having a physical experience.

I believe when one causes another suffering, it's because one's own suffering is overflowing, … and the appropriate response is compassion (although sometimes that's a challenge).

Blessed Be.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Originally to meet local people, but then surfed some when I'm away for a math conference: I'll come a day early or stay a day late, and have hosted, too.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've couchsurfed back in the '80's when I'd find people, and they've find me, through word of mouth and through different communities' networks.

Joined here mostly to meet new people in my own town, although occasionally I am able to host.

Interests

Grad student in Applied Math at University of Victoria studying climate modelling: cloud microphysics.

Hiking, camping, backpacking, mountaineering, kayaking, climbing, rock climbing.

Run marathons and did a triathlon.

Climbed to the base camp (4300ft) of Mt. Olympus.

Hiked the North Coast Trail the first week of September (2014) with someone I met through couch surfing who was looking for a hiking buddy for that trip.

Make home-made wine (and home-made mead).

As much contra dancing and swing dancing as I can.

• beauty
• dancing
• swing dancing
• causes
• cooking
• wine
• organic food
• triathlon
• running
• board games
• traveling
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• camping
• mountaineering
• surfing
• rock climbing
• mathematics
• medicine

Music, Movies, and Books

Fantasy: LOTR, Jean Auel's Earth Children series, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Harry Potter

Saw SkyFall, ... liked the other two recent ones better. Thor, The Avengers, Hunger Games, Harry Potter, The Matrix (my favorite documentary), Star Wars, Star Trek....

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Drank primordial water from a glacier on Mt Olympus.
Had a tour of some off-the-beaten-path caves by a self-proclaimed 'bush-doctor' in Jamaica.
Rode my fully loaded bicycle 55mph down a mountain.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've constructed a bio-diesel reactor and made bio-diesel from waste vegetable oil, and (back in Michigan) drove a car on home-made bio-diesel for two years (including winters). For two years previous to the bio-diesel car I drove a car (year round) on straight waste-vegetable-oil (separate fuel tanks).

Countries I’ve Visited

Germany, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States