CURRENT MISSION

To grow beyond my normal, introverted and frightened personality into the type of person I can be proud of.

ABOUT ME

A freshly-minted graduate from the backwoods of Louisiana who's gotten sick of the small-town, backwoods mentality and wants to see the big world. Normally rather soft-spoken, it takes me a little bit to warm-up to others. It's not that I'm cold or aloof; I just have a hard time expressing myself with people that I'm not fully comfortable with. That being said, I'm no stick in the mud; you can be assured that I won't just stare at you or mumble the whole time. I just might not be as outgoing as you'd like.

I'm a sucker for good conversation and am always willing to learn: science, the arts, philosophy, sports, comedy, food ANYTHING. If you know what you're talking about, I'm apt to listen. And if you just want to "shoot the shit," well, that's lovely, too. If I could, I'd have a job of endless conversation. There's nothing I like more.

I haven't traveled much at all in the past -- lived in Washington DC for a spell and have been to Germany and Mexico for two weeks each -- and am looking forward to changing that and soon!

PHILOSOPHY

Life is inherently absurd; no reason to get too upset about much of anything. Though one will, in spite of themselves.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Sadly, I can't provide overnight accommodations at this time: my contract (the school I work for is providing me a hostel room) prohibits my hosting overnight visitors. However, I can absolutely provide a place to stay in the afternoon and a casual tour guide for anyone who's interested. Lost in the city, stopping over for a few hours and don't know what to do? Contact me and I'll help you out the best I can.

HOWEVER, once I move back to the States (as is inevitable for me), I'd be more than happy to put you up for a night or two. It'd be my pleasure.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

A stop-over in Amsterdam on the way to Germany had gone horribly, horribly wrong: the friends I was supposed to be sharing a hotel room had found a different route to Germany, and so I was left with 3 choices: 1) foot the outrageous, combined price for the room; 2)find a hostel to stay in; 3)walk around all night and try not to fall asleep.

Well, the first 2 didn't go through (1 for obvious reasons, 2 because every hostel I visited was, by that time, full), and so I found myself trying to stay awake all night in a city I didn't know. That didn't work out too well: after the first 4 hours of walking I started to get really tired. While I sat underneath the Heineken factory's porch trying to catch a few z's in the most covert place I could, I failed to notice the couple approaching from the corner.

They immediately took an interest in me and started trying to find me a hostel, slowly figuring out how I'd gotten in this situation. After every hostel and hotel we visited in a 3 block radius proved over-booked, they offered me their couch. Though apprehensive, I decided to take them up on their offer. Which was a lovely idea: they fixed me tea, let me take a shower, and proved the most congenial, friendly people I've ever met. It was the sort of experience that made couch surfing seem not only possible, but appealing.

And, cornball as it sounds, I'd love to provide that help to another person and maybe give them the same feeling; "paying it forward", as that awful Bon Jovi vehicle put it.

Interests

I'm a literature buff, primarily Modern American and Victorian English fiction, though I'll make time for most anything. This extends to writing, as well: I'm always juggling a few projects (two comic book series going right now, and finishing up the second draft of a novel, as well as some essays) and spent a fair deal of time in college putting pen to paper for class, surprisingly NOT against my will (I really did love literary analysis).

I'm a small-time music enthusiasts as well, having worked at three radio stations (student, public and corporate) and have been in a band, The Goth Conglomerate, for about 7 years now; you can check out our ouvre on last.fm

Likewise, I have an enthusiast's interest (but not even their skill) in hiking, boxing, swimming and weightlifting. Sadly, it's hard to find time for these in between my paid job (English tutor) and my self-imposed job of writing.

• dogs
• arts
• writing
• books
• literature
• festivals
• dining
• working out
• walking
• juggling
• music
• hiking
• surfing
• sports
• boxing
• swimming
• teaching
• science
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: New Journalism (Didion, Thompson, their ilk); modern American authors (Roth, DeLillo, McCarthy); modernist literature (Faulkner, Hemingway, Steinbeck; I don't know where else to place her so I'll just put her here: Eudora Whelty), comic books (don't get me started).

Movies: Barton Fink, Miller's Crossing, The Dead, Re-Animator, Aguirre, the Wrath of God; Being John Malkovich; Manhattan.

Music: punk rock, mostly (Misfits, The Ramones, Joy Division [maybe they're post-punk; so sue me], Jawbreaker, forgetters, Drive Like Jehu, Have Heart. Also, some of what they call alternate rock (They Might be Giants, Wilco, REM), but god only knows what that term really means.

Also, shamefully, I have to admit I'm a big fan of Japanese Animation.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

There was the time that Nicholas Cage told me, personally, that I was from the internet...

In all seriousness? Doing psychedelics with my friend in the Bavarian Alps. It sounds so cliche', but it really was one of the most mind expanding and beautiful things I've done. The sunset that day, from where we stood on a peak, was literally breathtaking.

Sad to say that I've not really done all that much.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach my way around the kitchen when it comes to Creole cuisine: ever been curious about how to make gumbo, jambalaya, etouffee? Then I can show you (my kitchen right now's a bit prohibitive on this, though; it's a real dog. JUST enough room for a rice cooker, fridge and a sink. No more, no less)!

I also know my way with a pen: from letters to literary analysis to fiction, I've had a fair bit of success with my writing (a few publications here and there, one or two awards at literary festivals in the South). I'd be happy to provide editing services, or any feedback at all. Like I said, I'm a sucker for literary types (and this means those of you who are better than me, too! I want to learn myself!)

Also know how to program a mean radio show, for all that's worth.

As for learning? I've ALWAYS wanted to learn how to surf. Also, how to make small talk that's not actually vapid; I can be awkward beyond belief.

Countries I’ve Visited

Germany, Japan

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States