CURRENT MISSION

Currently, my mission is to see as much of the world as possible and spreading martial arts tricking. We aren't infinitely on this earth, and we must make the most out of every opportunity we've got..

ABOUT ME
My name is Andy Sanchez, "El Vatogato." Academically, I am a student of History at Universidad de Sonora in beautiful Hermosillo, Sonora. I have one big passion that has consumed my life for the better part of a decade, and that is tricking. An amazing blend of martial arts and gymnastics with a hint of break dance manifested in its own rebellious way. Physical anarchy, freedom of movement. I've also recently started to learn different circus skills such as handstands, juggling, and fire spinning. I like carrying around a notebook filled with nonsensical "corridos" that I write on a whim, while my guitar is able to serve.

PHILOSOPHY
My philosophy is a very personal brand of individual anarchism where I just live and let live. I couldn't for the life of my ever push my beliefs or my will upon another person, and even through all the trudging I've done, I still believe in my core that people are inherently good, but social context can shape them in various ways. I try not to judge, as we're all human, and all out imperfections are what make us, us.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to be a part of the Couchsurfing community because I strongly believe in human connections and experiencing a new place through the eyes of the people who live there. This is how real connections are made, how your perception changes. Being open to all different life philosophies, I see Couchsurfing as a platform for creating amazing experiences and friendships.

Depending on how my schedule is at any give time, I can always AT LEAST meet up with a traveler and show them around the City of the Sun, with a high probability of a couch. I have hosted many people since I was very young. Twice a year, I have people from all over Mexico arrive at my home for a week for a national tricking event.

My experience couchsurfing has been very positive, although I am now finally beginning to use this site. I have traveled all through Mexico with nothing but my backpack and have met amazing people. I've also had amazing people stay with me for months who have helped me grow into what I can only percieve as a better version of myself. Every connection I've made has greatly impacted me in one way or the other.

I've used the Couchsurfing philosophy on my travels to Canada, around the US, and throughout Mexico, having stayed in:

Montreal, Quebec,
Vancouver, BC,
San Diego, California
Las Vegas, Nevada
Aconchi, Sonora
Guadalajara, Jalisco
San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí
Mexico City
Obregon, Sonora
Navojoa, Sonora

Interests

My interest is Art, music, guitar, history, psychedelia, a good conversation, a good game of chess, a good hand-rolled tobacco, and open spaces for acrobatics. That is my utopia.

• arts
• dancing
• chess
• juggling
• music
• guitar
• backpacking
• martial arts
• gymnastics
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Music is a very profound subject. My tastes vary widely, from regional nothern Mexican music, to progressive rock, and everything in between. I am a musician that got his foundation in classical music, but I've not played in an orchestra for over a decade, having taken the course towards folk music as an autodidact. Gimmie something bassy and I'm in.

I am not much a fan of cinema, though I do enjoy some movies. The whole idea of Hollywood movies just rubs me the wrong way, and I feel most movies aren't made for the sake of art, but are just made with money in mind. I enjoy independent efforts however, even if some are outrageous.

As for reading! I love it! My favorite book is Chuck Palahnuik's Fight Club, but I also enjoy reading a lot of academic articles and journals on social sciences and history in specific as it's what I'm studying. As nerdy as it may sound, I am a huge fan of Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain and read Dungeons and Dragons rulebooks for fun (not that I've memorized the rules)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I believe the most amazing thing I've done is the skill known as a backflip. Sure, to a lot of people in acrobatics it's basic. Me, however... I struggled with that skill for many years until one day my stubborness finally overpowered my physical ability and I was able to land a backflip. That was the most amazing thing I've done, I believe, and it was all though dedication.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach people the basics of acrobatics and juggling so that there are minimum risk of injuries in the learning process. I have worked on progressive skills in order to achieve this. If you've got an hour to spare, I've got an hour to talk about history with you, and if you've got 2 hours to spare, I can teach you to make my famously-loved Chili beans! I can also help in the learning process for Spanish or English, but it won't be academic-level... I've not studied to teach a language yet.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Mexico, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, United States