I'm originally from America but have spent only 5 of the last 18 years in America. I completed my PhD in Scotland, have worked in Iran, North Cyprus, Qatar, and India, and have lived on-and-off in Switzerland, France, Italy, and England.

My background is in Renaissance literature, but much of my work these days is in Digital Humanities including 3d modeling of heritage structures and textual analysis.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm always on the move! Often, I live in a country for a long time (Scotland 5 years, England 1, Qatar 3, Cyprus 2, India 2, and so on), but the best way to learn about an area quickly is to see how locals live.

Interests

I'm a Padi Divemaster and dove in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Andaman Sea, and Pacific Ocean: best place so far: Fiji.

I love running and have spent time in the Rift Valley.

I try to include my interest in art, architecture, and theater in my travels wherever I go!

• theater
• performing arts
• architecture
• running
• scuba diving
• art history

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a reader. Depending on the day: Shakespeare and contemporaries; Modernists (Hemingway, Eliot, Pound, etc.), and Postmodern/Post Human Theory: Deleuze, Guatari, Eco, etc, but Mashiro Mori and Hiroshi Ishiguor is fun too! I love light reading too and have devoured everything from all of Harry Potter to the Game of Thrones in its turn.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Gosh, kind of bashful here.... I did pull Sir Clement Freud (Sigmund Freud's grandson) around St. Andrews in a carriage.... long story.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've taught in Hindi, Arabic, Persian, and Turkish classrooms. I hope to do more!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Experience living and working all over.

I'm a good cook: I've worked in 5 star and Michelin rated restaurants when I was younger and love a variety of cooking styles including Indian; Thai, Japanese, and Western/Fusion.

I know my wine... I was a sommelier at the Old Course Hotel in Scotland for 4 years and can have share that knowledge.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, British Indian Ocean Territory, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Monaco, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Oman, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cyprus, France, India, Italy, Qatar, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States