CURRENT MISSION

Live on every continent and discover what - despite all the foreignness - makes us all human beings.

ABOUT ME

I suppose I’m the type of person who never accepted that life has to be a certain way. I lived in the same house until I was 21, and since then I’ve had one amazing opportunity after another to live all over the world in pursuit of a full, adventurous, and meaningful life. Sometimes it makes my head spin just thinking about it. It definitely hasn’t been a straight road or a clear one, and I’ve had as many setbacks as advances, but slowly I think I’m learning what this world is about, and how I’m supposed to live in it.
For me, it’s all about people, and kindness, and love. Not a new thought, I know, but it seems like we all have to learn it for ourselves in our own way. CS has made it possible to meet so many people that have powerfully affected my path, and I look forward to every new encounter as an opportunity to understand the world and myself a little better.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe we're here for a reason. We're not required or maybe even expected to discover this reason, but it would be a shameful waste if we don't.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've realized, slowly, much more slowly than most travellers, that going from person to person is MUCH more interesting than going from place to place. CS makes that possible.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've hosted and been hosted all over the world, from traditional houses in small Japanese villages to the wonderful flat I rented in the center of Prague. One of the most memorable was being befriended by several university students in Yangon, Burma, who took me to their tiny village monastery to spend the day and night there. The monastery was on a small island in the middle of a lake, accessible only by a rickety bamboo bridge. The children had never seen a white man before, but accepted me almost instantly. I stayed up until 3am talking about life, religion, politics, and love with the head monk under the blanket of stars. Unforgettable.

Interests

Travel, photography, reading, writing, philosophical conversations, cultural exploration, trekking, camping, penguins, truth, love, pepperoni pizza, strong wind, climbing trees and rocks, long talks with friends, questions, the future, Prague, Japanese scroll paintings, classical greek sculpture, U2, mountains, sudden flashes of insight, continually expanding lists,

• writing
• photography
• dancing
• walking
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• camping
• rock climbing
• history
• religion
• mountains

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've had a blessed life..hard to sum up..
As much as I hate to admit it (being a card-carrying Night Owl), there's something about early mornings..
- Waking up at dawn on top of a mountain reached only by a 1000 year old buddhist pilgrimage trail in the deep forests of southern Japan, watching the peaks slowly awaken to greet me.
-Sunrise over Angkor Wat
-Exploring temples all night Indiana Jones style with new Japanese and French friends, then waiting for the hiding sunrise from the top of a deserted temple in the middle of the plains of Bagan, Burma.
-Sneaking out over the moon-lit sea-ice of Finland and waiting for the sun to turn it all to diamonds
- Watching Everest slowly materialize in the distance from the mountains of Sikkim, India.
- Blood red sun rising over the mud-hut orphanage where I lived for two months as I walk away for the last time.
- Perched on a high bluff over the antelope and zebras, emerging from the tent and watching it all turn red and orange in Hell's Gate, Kenya, feeling like the only person on earth.
-Working all night then walking down into the center of Prague at dawn,crossing charles bridge under the sleepy eyes of history, stepping through the dancing glitter from cathedral windows and crystal shops, entering the serene austerity of Old Town Square in the first light of morning.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you're interested in living an international life, I can probably give you some hard-earned pointers.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Myanmar, Rwanda, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, Tanzania, United States

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