CURRENT MISSION

to get the word out to linguists about how interesting Kazakh and Kyrgyz are

PHILOSOPHY

I believe that humans should appreciate, respect, and try to learn about the environment around them. This means that an attempt should be made to understand everything (people, the environment, etc.--basically any scientific endeavour), respect it all for what it is, and appreciate it for what it can do for you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Have couch, but not currently available for surfing. Need to settle into new place, and talk with new roommate if I even decide I have the time for this, what with doctoral work and all.. Sorry :(

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None yet. Just heard good things from people I know.

Interests

the letter l:
language, linguistics, linux, laterals, licorice, the Lorax, ... (e.g., laziness, lateness, laughter, lambda extraction)

Central Asia:
Turkic languages, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian (ugh, kind of), throat singing, snow leopards

enchantments:
snow, storms, seasons, warm evenings spent outside, mountains, sunsets, sunrises, city-scapes, freckles, ice skating, jigsaw puzzles

food (what, you're not interested in food?):
cookies, pumpkin, apples, cider, apple tea, tea, rooibos, red tea, horchata, homemade pizza; most things spicy, cheesy, or cardamomy; pretty much everything else

linguistics:
phonology, weird vowel harmony systems, sonority, the history of language families, SOV languages, C-less relative clauses, scientifically sound linguistics, constraint-based approaches (to everything), conlanging

other:
python, LaTeX, Yiddish, being Zorro/Westley, DDR, cute/vicious rodents, Vermont, Brandeis University

• rodents
• singing
• environment
• dining
• puzzles
• surfing
• history
• languages
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Lots and lots of stuff, with slight folky, dreamy, and/or fun themes to much of it.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I guess it's a matter of perspective. Breathing is pretty amazing, I guess, but I don't know if I'd say that some of my "crazy" adventures in Central Asia count as amazing too.

Teach, Learn, Share

Linguistic theory. A few languages. Some computer stuff, including linux. Pick something from interests and I'll talk about it all night if I'm not stopped ;)