CURRENT MISSION

Happy to have had the chance to host Couchsurfers at a place of my own, but I'm currently traveling and back to surfing.

ABOUT ME

I like to consider myself pretty laid back, and easy to get along with. When I was younger I dropped out of university and instead did a lot of traveling. I never regretted that decision, since it allowed me to get a different sort of education on my own terms. Traveling has given me direction and clarity and afforded me the opportunity to give back through a range of short-term jobs and volunteer work.

PHILOSOPHY

I was raised with a lot of Quaker ideology, and so I believe in the intrinsic goodness of all people. I believe that the best way to treat people is always with compassion and empathy. With a little empathy and self control it is easy to understand or even pity the people that can be the most aggravating, even in the most difficult situations. I also believe that a cornerstone to a happy life is the feelings of giving back to society, being productive, and living unselfishly in the service to others. A Quaker adage that rings true for me: ´Work is love made visible´

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I slept on couches throughout 3 road trips accross the US totaling 3 months and 20,000+ miles. Although I did not exclusively use couchsurfers, it was one of the highlights of my trip to experience the hospitality of people that were enthusiastic about their home towns and sharing their perspectives with me. I was able to repay a little of that kindness when I hosted couchsurfers back at my last apartment in Cusco, and now I am back to surfing.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have done my share of surfing and hosted a little too.

Interests

Traveling, reading, nature, hiking, mountaineering, sea kayaking, scuba diving, wilderness survival, cycling and running, lifting/fitness, practicing martial arts (Krav Maga and MMA), volunteer work, music (reggae, rock, ska, classic rock, blues, etc), motorcycles, classic cars, politics, animals and pets, etc.

• animals
• pets
• arts
• books
• education
• fitness
• running
• motorcycles
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• volunteer work
• cars
• juggling
• survival
• music
• blues
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• canoeing
• kayaking
• camping
• mountaineering
• surfing
• scuba diving
• martial arts
• rock climbing
• teaching
• history
• volunteering
• road trips

Music, Movies, and Books

Books and Authors: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Man's Search For Meaning, Dune, Stranger in a Strange Land, Michael Crichton, Lonesome Dove, Walden, The USA Trilogy, Ragtime, Mario Vargas Llosa, Game of Thrones, Hatchet, Nietzche, etc

Movies and Directors: The Big Lebowski,Brazil, Blackhawk Down, Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamonds, Amile, Snatch, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, District B13, Wild Zero, 28 days later/28 weeks later, Tokyo Zombie, early Kevin Smith movies, many Stanly Kubrick movies, Quentin Tarantino, Ip Man, Drunken Monkey, Ong Bak, etc.

I go through many phases with music that ebb and flow with time. I have listened to an eclectic mix ranging from metal, classic rock, funk, folk, blues, reggae, dancehall, ska, and classic rap/hip hop from the 90's.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

-Arranging my own motorcycle trip into the Manu region of the Amazon

Teach, Learn, Share

I am interested in learning anything about martial arts, unicycling/juggling, motorbikes, mechanics, history, politics, etc. I'm open to book, movie and music recommendations, life philosophy, outlook or advice, or whatever else you have to offer. I also love hearing and telling stories.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bolivia, Botswana, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Peru, United States