CURRENT MISSION

To thrust my will upon the world and make a constructive ripple... to absorb rich experiences from all of the world's regions and all of life's domains.

ABOUT ME

I am a student of the human condition, burning with curiosity and oozing with vitality, as I thrust myself into the unknown in search of meaning, happiness, and life's essence. I love writing. I write to reflect truths about our shared nature. And because its really fun and cool. I love life. I'll smile on my deathbed, looking back, knowing that I maximized every moment I had. Or at least that I tried my hardest. I love exploration. I'm endeavoring to collect a rich variety of experiences, by traveling not just around the globe, but also in my consciousness, my understandings, my emotions, my dreams, and my connections with others. I love to talk. I love to listen. I love to understand and be understood by people without judgement and prejudice. As the most ardent proponent of open mindedness, I invite people to question everything and to demolish the mental blockades that shackle them.

PHILOSOPHY

The wisest person is one who knows how little they know. I don't have absolute certainty in anything, but absolute certainty is not a prerequisite to living. Thus I can't know what happens after death but consider it a very real possibility that death is oblivion. I choose to confront this possibility by maximizing my life right now by living it to its fullest. I am free to make choices. I am responsible for these choices, their consequences, and for the way I live my life. The meaning and purpose of my life is not handed down to me. I create it for myself.
Philosophers need to have the bravery to adopt uncomfortable positions, the honesty to stand naked before themselves, and the intellectual humility to admit when they are wrong and then to shed their preconceptions.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I’ve surfed the couches of some incredible people on my outrageous 8-month odyssey across North America. These generous hosts became my friends who showed me new ways of living. I’m on the verge of an epic adventure to teach English in Southeast Asia, probably in Hanoi Vietnam. Once I find a job and set up my home, I plan on welcoming in travelers from all over the globe. I consider these people friends I have yet to meet.

Where do you draw the line between hospitality and charity?
It is a line in the sand.
Reciprocity is key.
Flexibility is key.
Communication is key.
Expectations should be discussed and negotiated openly and as they emerge, evaporate, bend, shatter, or crystallize. Both guest and host should act in good faith to ensure that all parties benefit from this exchange. Everyone does so their own way, be it hard work or other means. I trade in the currency of love, passion, insight, novelty, and transcendence. I want to learn and grow from others and I want others to learn and grow from me.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

All the generosity I've received from my hosts has greatly escalated my faith in humanity. Couch surfing is a portal to a whole new realm of amazing people.

Interests

Philosophy
Open mindedness
Profound conversation
Fun & adventure
Deep people
True friends

• writing
• literature
• perfumes
• partying
• clubbing
• traveling
• dumpster diving
• drawing
• survival
• cycling
• fishing
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• scuba diving
• buddhist
• boxing
• rock climbing
• hang gliding
• teaching
• psychology
• science
• budget travel

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
Shogun by James Clavell
Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
When Nietzsche Wept by Irvin Yalom
The Singularity Is Near by Ray Kurzweil
Exploring The World Of Lucid Dreaming
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Martin Eden by Jack London
1984 by George Orwell

Movies:
Inception
Fight Club
The Matrix
Blade Runner
American Beauty
The City Of God
Eternal Sunshine
Enter The Void
The Shining
Waking Life
Synecdoche
Memento
Requiem
Gladiator
Aliens

Music:
There is good music in just about every genre so show me something new. Here are some favorites. I especially like psychedelic and electronic music, especially trance.
Shpongle
Pink Floyd
Mount Kimbie
Brian Holmes
Markus Shultz
Justin Nordheim
Infected Mushroom
Armin Van Buuren

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I created a club in college called Brainstorm to unify intellectually and emotionally deep people in a free flowing open minded exchange of ideas. I wanted to unify people who are tuned in and alive so that they could burn brighter when together. We met for 2 hours every Wednesday of the school year for 3 years where we discussed life and the universe in a circle on a hill. We also had a lot of fun with parties, bonfires, and camping trips to magical locations.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a lot of tips on how to TRAVEL in the US ON THE CHEEP: hitch hiking, white boxing, dumpster diving, you name it I've done it and I'd love to share and learn more.
I have many INTELLECTUAL & CREATIVE INSIGHTS that I would love to share and to learn more.
I know a lot about PSYCHOLOGY because of my BA in Cognitive Science and my own investigations.
I'm pretty proficient in WILDERNESS SURVIVAL and can teach you to start a fire just about any situation where it is actually possible to do so.
I'm a TEFL Certified English Teacher so I can help you with your English.
I'd love to learn more about construction, first aid, budget travel, literature, building intentional communities, scuba diving, fishing, rock climbing, hang gliding, mountain biking, buddhism, and anything that might blow my hair back.

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States, Viet Nam

•