CURRENT MISSION

Continue to Maintain my GPA (Generally Positive Attitude)

ABOUT ME

Origin story:

The clock struck noon and a baby was born (as documents would later prove the time was actually 11:59). His hunger was insatiable. Meanwhile in the hospital waiting room a TV aired the story of a lion also named Christian. Was it an omen of good fortune? A curious coincidence? Or perhaps a calculated and questionable new-age christening sponsored by the TV Guide? Regardless this baby got born.

A mom in Wisconsin. A dad in California. I was primed for travel well before my feet could carry me to the nearest greyhound station. By the age of 13 I was flying solo betwixt madre y padre and at age 18 I went on my first ever road trip. That experience blew the lid off of travel for me. The rush, the freedom, and the possibilities were truly enlightening...

Then I did the college thing. Then I did the debt thing. Then I did the full-time job thing. Domestic expeditions came and went; meanwhile, the notion of long-term travel was quietly lingering in the back of my mind for me to occasionally visit (much like a caged big cat at a local zoo). I lacked urgency. I had a nice girlfriend, a nice job, and lived in a nice house with nice friends. I was comfortable, and comfort is the enemy of adventure. The ingredients were laid out to kill my lingering friend and begin a domesticated life. Then came the human fish...

Randomly fun facts that make me me:

When I was 11 I decided to test my blind bike-riding skills by coasting down the hill of my cul-de-sac with my eyes closed whilst timing how long I could go for. The answer: until I hit a mailbox
Age of 13 went to a middle school where everyone thought Christian was a girl’s name because girl Christian was MUCH more popular

Moved to a high school of 20 people where the odds of that happening were much less likely and subsequently became valedictorian in a graduating class of two (hey someone had to do it)

I've had more last names than the average divorced woman

I pinch my pennies til they turn into travel dust (don’t ask about the conversion rate)

PHILOSOPHY

I'm an evolving creature in an evolving world. Let's see what happens next...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on Couchsurfing because it represents a community that unites people from different backgrounds and encourages them to expand their thoughts/comfort zones/perceptions while offering an amazing opportunity to explore a new city. While travelling is my passion and was initially my ideal way to participate, I've had an amazing time meeting up with travelers in my city and attending local couchsurfing events. Couchsurfing has given me so many great moments and friendships that I never would have expected. I can't wait to build on these experiences and continue to grow and learn in this community.

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've both surfed and hosted multiple times in addition to participating in local meet-ups/couchsurfing activities. More recently though, I had adopted the position of host. I worked full time, so hosting was a great way to "travel" without leaving my city. Playing both ambassador AND explorer were roles that I fully embraced and oftentimes I'd mix in Minneapolis staples with places I'd never been so that I could share new experiences with my guests.

I've met so many passionate and inspirational surfers that continue to reinforce my enthusiasm for the couchsurfing community.

Interests

Things which I enjoy:

Cribbage (or... preparing for my life as an elderly man from mid-west America), country driving with the windows down and the sun up, concerts at good venues, a night in with the roommates playing board games, midnight movies, good service at a good restaurant, muting the tv and playing guitar while singing my own narrative, couchsurfing, yucca fries, travelling with friends (be it to the car wash or the other end of the country), biking to work and passing the hundreds of cars stuck in traffic, reading on planes, the anticipation of a trip, getting a good deal so I have more money for travelling, the feeling of connecting with a new album for the first time, not eating fast food, cooking a meal for the first time and nailing it, getting paid to play ping pong, etc.

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:

Silver Jews, Sufjan Stevens, Neil Young, La Femme, Frank Ocean, Ween, Belle and Sebastian, Joanna Newsom, Why?, Jeffrey Lewis, Fiona Apple, Moses Sumney, Leonard Cohen, The Kinks, Ezra Furman, John Prine, The National, Andrew Bird, Bill Callahan, Neutral Milk Hotel and anything to suit the mood I'm in. Always looking for new music recommendations...

Movies and TV:

Beasts of the Southern Wild, Gummo, Persona, Fantastic Mr. Fox, American Werewolf in London, Misery, Amelie, Call Me By Your Name, Pulp Fiction, Donnie Darko, REC, Wild Tales (Relatos Salvajes), Princess Mononoke, The Room, Nathan For You, Twin Peaks, Arrested Development, Peep Show, Garth Marenghi's Dark Place, anything on PBS

Directors: Kubrick, Herzog, PT Anderson, Miyazaki, Bergman, Wes Anderson, Iñárritu

Books: Haruki Murakami, Tom Robbins, John Steinbeck (East of Eden is a favorite), Kurt Vonnegut, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Jurassic Park, Into Thin Air

If I could have a conversation with any living human I would choose Karl Pilkington.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A Handful of Memorable (Some Might Say Amazing) Things...

Went to Prince's last event at Paisely Park, five days before he died. There I saw Prince's last ever "performance". It was a bizarre and memorable experience that was made even more surreal by the fact he died so shortly afterwards. If we meet up I can tell you all about my weird night at Prince's palace.

Planned and Hosted a Cat Wedding. This started as a joke and ended in a forty person event that included a photographer, kitty costumes, bridesmaids, groomsmen, a 20 minute ceremony, and a "reception" aka dance party with our DJ friend.

Performed a surf opera musical in my basement. My friend created a persona about a delusional surfer named Beach Tony. He then turned this persona into an hour and a half long musical with 6 songs which we then performed in my basement. Set-list included such hits as: Beach Party Politics, Two Hearts One Sea, and I Wanna Wanda.

Snuck into a music festival in a forest in Turkey. It was a harrowing experience that included mosquito assaults, guard chases, wrong turns, thorny vines, and many quarrels. When we finally emerged bloody and beleaguered we realized that the final performances were happening. Exhausted from the journey, we each bought as many beers as we could carry and collapsed in the grass.

I was walking in a canyon in San Diego when I saw a tarantula hawk laying it's eggs in a live tarantula in the middle of the path. If you look up pictures of these things you'll understand why I kept a good distance...

*pending amazement* Quit my job to travel for an undetermined amount of time.

Teach, Learn, Share

Now that my college education is behind me I feel that my learning is just beginning. Couchsurfing is a great tool in not only sharing experiences, but sharing knowledge as well.

What I can offer:

+ my ear (I'm a very good listener)
+ my stories (I've been to over half the states in the US)
+ thoughtful discussion
+ personal finance tips (I paid off 15k in loans in 2 years)
+ new music suggestions (I'm an avid concertgoer/music enthusiast)
+ breakfast (Even for dinner...)
+ travel planning collaboration (I loooove planning trips)

What I Can Share with Hosts

See Teach, Learn, Share...

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Palestine, Panama, Poland, Russian Federation, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Turkey, United States