CURRENT MISSION

To pack as much knowledge into my head as possible, and to share it with others.

ABOUT ME

I'm kinda bookish, but like rounding that out with some outdoors time. Travel's a major hobby, and I'd like to know the basics in as many languages as is necessary to make your way around the world while being able to communicate meaningfully with those around you, so striking that balance in language study is an interest of mine.

PHILOSOPHY

I try to keep things simple. "Don't be a dick" seems to have worked out OK for me so far. That and the corollary rule "do nice things to/for other people" should cover most bases.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Right now, pretty much just chatting, hopefully at some point in the future I'll have a couch that can be slept on, I wish I could better practice the positive trait of hospitality. As of now, my ability is limited to mostly being a tour guide in places that I have some familiarity with.

Interests

History, hiking (even when it's been ages since I've gone out with a pack and I'm out of shape, I like doing it), reading, crawling along rocks in the deserts of the American Southwest, and terrible, terrible jokes.

• beauty
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• history
• languages
• tourism
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Sergio Leone's "trilogy", In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, to name a few off the top of my head.
Music: Varied, right now mostly The Dubliners, The Pogues, Kent, Garbage, and Florence + The Machine; also a big fan of Tom Waits, The Clash, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Led Zeppelin, Modest Mouse, about 30% of the Rolling Stones' discography, what I've heard of Jay-Z's work, and some of Klaus Nomi's stuff. Suggest stuff to me, I'm always open to trying out new music.
Books: Terry Pratchett's Discworld has consumed my bookshelf.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

How can you choose? Right now, what stands out in my mind are those moments where you get to see and be a part of the serene beauty of the natural world. Costa Rican beaches, helping preserve and protect sea turtle nests, reaching the ridges of hiking trails in the Sierra Nevada, planting trees, the raw verdant natural beauty of the Na Pali Coast, the twisted scenery of lava fields on Hawaii's Saddle Road.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've got a Cambridge CELTA certificate; if you're looking to improve or practice your English I can help you with that.
I'd appreciate any help offered with German, Russian, French, Farsi, Spanish, Mandarin, or Arabic. I can also teach some basic things about US history, European history, and weatherization. Probably a little bit about the wilderness and how to make do with less things (quick tip: getting a wide-mouthed steel canteen and a thick glove makes for a handy pot, and boiling acorns should render them safe for eating if you are sure to change out the water to get rid of the tannins).
Also, if you're curious about American history or politics, I tend to know more than the average person. I'm always looking to expand my knowledge of history, so feel free to teach me as well!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Spain, United States

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