Hello, I'm Matthew, a curious American humanities student from the beautiful New England harbor town of Portland, Maine, where I used to sell "lobstah" (lobster) at a local fish market. For the past year and half I've been living an studying in Rome, Italy, which I use as a base to explore Europe and the Mediterranean.

I come from a WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) background, but during my travels I've been trying to expand my horizons and view the world through different lenses.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to see new places, meet new people, see our wonderful world through new perspectives.

While I haven't tried surfing yet, I've been to numerous CS events in Rome as well as other cities that I travel to. It is great way to meet interesting people.

Interests

During my time in Italy I've tried to soak in as much art and culture as possible. I'm particularly interested in how philosophical ideas can be "objectified" in art.

I'm also fascinated by the evolutionary development of western religion.

• hiking
• art history
• history
• travel
• cinema
• theatre
• jogging
• world food
• world religions

Music, Movies, and Books

“Not all those who wander are lost.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I saw snowflakes falling through the oculus of the Pantheon . There's nothing as magical as Rome in the snow!

A close 2nd is exploring the the archaeological tunnels beneath the Temple Mount / Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. It's a place loaded with interesting history, unfortunate tension, and believed holiness. Walking down through the layers is like traveling through time.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach English, Italian Renaissance art history, or my theories about the evolution of monotheism.

I'd like to learn about new cultures and different ways of seeing beauty in the world.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share stories about growing up in America and my travels around Europe.

As an ex-New England fish mongerer, I know how to make some mean seafood dishes. If seafood isn't your thing I've gotten fairly good at making traditional Italian Risotto.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Israel, Puerto Rico, Spain, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States