CURRENT MISSION

Eat first, ask questions later. Alternatively, to go where, well, some people have gone before, but at least where I haven't gone before

ABOUT ME

Grew up in New York City, went to school in St. Louis, did some publishing odd jobs for a year, now I'm studying in Taipei for a year.

我會說話語，跟我練習，好吧？

I tend to like the visceral (minus actual viscera, thank you very much). Spicy food, punk rock, intense cultural experiences, leftist politics, that kind of thing. But I myself, I would hope, am fairly chill and have a good sense of humor for the most part (some people would call it dry). I aim to roll with the punches, I hope never to bore and I try to always be interested.

PHILOSOPHY

"Human emancipation will only be complete when the real, individual man has absorbed into himself the abstract citizen; when as an individual man, in his everyday life, in his work, and in his relationships, he has become a species-being"

"Al-Masry: Do you have any advice or suggestions on how to fight a lion for any young children out there interested in following in your footsteps?

Essawy: I don’t think anyone can follow in my footsteps; I have a special gift, and I just want to share it to make people happy and to help my country. But the key to fighting a lion is maintaining eye contact, and, really, not wanting to die. "

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Unfortunately, living in dorms right now, so cannot host, which disappoints me, as it seems to be the spirit of the thing. Happy to meet for food or drinks.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm a n00b.

Interests

燒烤，四川菜，夫妻肥片, recent/contemporary Chinese fiction (Yu Hua, Su Tong, Mo Yan), 19th century Russian lit, politics of all sorts and all places, good movies (I liked Uncle Boonmee Who Can Remember His Past Lives; I also like Commando), indie/garage punk/soul (St. Vincent/Ty Segall/Mighty Hannibal), love alt-comedy (Comedy Death Ray, that kind of thing).

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU!

• culture
• dining
• drinking
• politics
• movies
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

At the time of update:

The last movie I saw and enjoyed was "Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down!" Almodovar's films are kind of all the same, but good all the same.

Last book I read and enjoyed was a new English translations of Qian Zhongshu's sanwen and early short stories, "Humans, Beasts, Ghosts." Currently reading "The Silent Tranformations" by Francois Jullien.

Last album added: Highway Children by 包子虎

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbed Taishan. It's not just the mountain, it's the history and the culture.