Hey! I'm Grayson, a 27 yro writer currently adventuring across Asia and South America since October of 2017.

**If you’re requesting to stay with me, please look for the first three words in the “WHY I’M ON COUCHSURFING” section and copy it into the first line of your request. That way I can see who sent copy/past spam ;)

CURRENTLY: on a six month backpacking trip through South America to learn Spanish, get a tattoo and see a solar eclipse.

My biggest goal in the next two years is to make an overland hitch hiking trip from Thailand to Paris via CouchSurfing, and to help people I meet along the way.
++++
Instagram: @graysongalloway

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Life is ambiguous ..

A few weeks on the tourist backpacker circuit in popular destinations for Westerners like Thailand and Vietnam helped me realize the benefits of community living, learning about culture, respect, making your bed, and just traveling slower with people who aren't rushing around and treating their time like a big drinking party or a cheap holiday.

It took me a while to love putting myself “out there” on CouchSurfing because it made me nervous, but now most of my traveling is hitch hiking, CouchSurfing, finding communities to live in, and now I’m trying camping in a small tent.

The interaction of hosting/surfing is cool, as well I have a strong personal belief that people are meant to live in communities as opposed to feeling alienated from other people. I grew up with divorced parents and never really had a “home”, so I like to make one wherever I go with whoever I’m with- CouchSurfing helps unite people together and that’s a good thing.

I really want to have the experiences we can only make together through a community like CouchSurfing, and also steering clear from the tourist gatherings ... I really prefer small towns and the countryside to big cities in the Lonely Planet books. My favorite travel memories have been made based on the suggestions of CS hosts and people I meet just by pure luck or "small world" serendipity.

Interests

+CULTURE and TRADITION are particularly interesting conversation topics to me, as well as the great people who rebel against their culture or find traditions to be outdated.

+As stated, I SOLEMNLY PROMISE to eat as much good food together as you want, no limits ... I’ve mentioned a few times that i LOVE food .. especially spicy dishes, national cuisines, or curries, or soups, or sea food, or fermented foods. I’m addicted to good soups.

TRAVELERS ROMANCE; respect respect respect ... Of course it’s nice to have a good connection, but I’m not on CS for meeting cute people ... I had a very bad experience with a host CouchSurfing so please be respectful. If it turns out that I’m interested in you like that, I’ll tell you :)

• writing
• books
• photography
• cooking
• meditation
• politics
• reading
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• history
• biking
• weightlifting
• writing letters

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - dance music, a shared playlist between 4 of my friends that we add stuff to so we don’t feel far away from each other
Movies - John Carpenter films, Christopher Nolan, ambiguous endings
Books - sci-fi, Stephen King, French philosophers

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

realized traveling is about the people you meet and what they teach you, not the places you go

Teach, Learn, Share

TEACH: +I am a certified ESL teacher and tutor if you want to practice your English .. you have to teach me some of your language though :)

+If you’re curious about fasting, breathing, and meditating, I’ve done a lot of experimenting with each

+ I write everyday at least a few pages and I’m very passionate about journaling, creative writing, and reading. It took me a long time and a lot of sadness and heartache and frustration, but I think writing helps to turn the bad things in your life into good things.

+push-ups and bodyweight fitness, as well as some healthy stretching and yoga for keeping fit while away from a gym

+ right now I’m learning slack line and high line

SHARE:
+I like to make hitch-hiking information cards in the local language

+I LOVE food and will cook big meals for a lot of people or small dishes for a friendly dinner - we can teach each other about cooking. It’s so wonderful to share. I think cooking is very intimate and makes an acquaintance into a friend. Most Asian cuisine is different from what I grew up eating in the USA, so I like that especially hot, sour, or smelly food. And noodles. And rice. And vegetables. And all of it.

LEARN:
+I’m learning Spanish to prepare for a big trip through South America - let’s practice!

What I Can Share with Hosts

My CouchSurfing goals are friends, learning, laughs and experiences we can only have together... what are yours? :)

Clean and tidy, you won't find my boxer shorts strewn on your bathroom floor and my socks hanging off the fan.

I try to be civilized, not speak too loudly, eat with a closed mouth, and always wear deodorant as well :)

If I’m hosting you, I want you to enjoy my city, sleep well, and walk away wanting to host me in your country and introduce me to your friends. I try hard with surfers and I’m not uncomfortable admitting it that I want you to have a good time, and to like me, and to enjoy what we do together.

I try to be very open minded and not judge people’s choices or lives ... respect is nice .. that’s because life can be very funny and ambiguous ... its not good to be too sure of yourself.

Always keen to watch the stars, or a beautiful sunset, or lay out in some grass for a long chat. This year I’m trying to watch as many sunsets as possible.

I like to just talk and walk and listen to people complain or talk about things they are passionate about, especially when we disagree.

People have a little bowl of ingredients that their life has given them, and you have your own ingredients, and you can bake it into a friendship together by combining them. I can’t think of much more beautiful than that.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Bahamas, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Ireland, United States