CURRENT MISSION

Survive grad school and improve my Mandarin and Spanish and travel around the world as much as I can before I have to graduate and get a real job.

ABOUT ME

I'm 2 years into my PhD in Chemical Engineering at the Univ of Minnesota in Minneapolis. I enjoy doing research, and I also enjoy European and Eastern artwork. I am trying to improve my Mandarin and my Spanish to go to Belize and Guatemala Dec 2015. During my travels in Europe I enjoyed art museums and outdoor activities and nature, hiking, biking, snowboarding, etc. The best part about traveling is meeting people from other countries and learning about their culture, politics, etc and learning their perspective. It's always good to know where to get the best food and drinks! When I'm not traveling or too busy with school I like to go to the gym and running to stay in shape. I enjoy following US and international politics and economics in the news.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm a Christian, Lutheran. I like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle; Nietzsche is also fascinating.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've had many great experiences CSing in Europe and now China!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

In Europe I have CSed in Paris, Strasbourg, Amsterdam and Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Kalmar, Tallin, Gent, Dijon, and Nice. In China I have CSed in Chengdu, Leshan, Emeishan, Kunming, Shanghai, Taiyuan and Beijing.

Interests

Snowboarding, running, traveling, mountain biking, golfing, surfing, reading, listening to music (metal and rock mainly). European fine art and history. Chinese history and art jade, porcelain, and bronzes.

• arts
• culture
• dining
• running
• drinking
• politics
• news
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• surfing
• snowboarding
• economics
• engineering
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Apollo 13, Forest Gump, Inception,A Clockwork Orange.
Music: As I Lay Dying, The Devil Wears Prada, All That Remains, Hawthorne Heights, A day to Remember.
Books: Plato's Republic, Crime and Punishment, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

View from Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore. Jungle islands off the coast of Costa Rica. Snowboarding in the back country at Wolf Creek, Colorado. The Tulip Gardens in Amsterdam. The fjords and The Pulpit Rock in Norway.

Teach, Learn, Share

Message me about any of the places I've been maybe I can give you some tips!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm pretty handy around the house so I can help out. I like to discuss politics, current events, economics and foreign affairs. I can tell you good bedtime stories about chemical engineering (because chem e is so boring it will put you to sleep).

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Denmark, United States