CURRENT MISSION

Be in the right place at the right time to get the envelope that tells me what my mission is, should I choose to accept it, and then self-destructs. I've missed it so far.

ABOUT ME

I grew up in the midwest (Kalamazoo, Michigan and Grinnell, Iowa (both are magical places!)), and now live in California.

I've been a special education teacher for the past three years, and had a love/hate relationship with it. I almost always loved the kids, and I had a lot of problems with the institutional structure and various other "life lessons" that are transmitted via a public education. So just this year I quit my job and am now travelling to Southeast Asia! Woohoo!

But, now that info is done with, I can really get down to the nitty gritty.

I am really a people person. I love getting to know folks and sharing myself with them. This can seem a little unlikely sometimes, because I am often quiet and contemplative in social situations with larger groups. Ever since I was young (according to my grandmother), I have been like that. But I really do love connecting with folks, new and old.

I love music, food, and the arts in general.

I am a student of history and a student of life. I think it is very important to understand the past in order to understand what's really going on in the present day.

I'm very political, with a strong anti-authoritarian bent. I'm not very interested in electoral politics, because I think they don't do much to empower regular folks. I don't tend to steer conversations in a political-philosophy direction, but prefer to express my opinions about a myriad of issues and leave folks to infer more broadly from there. I don't mind having my brain picked, though.

I think I'm a pretty good storyteller, and many friends have told me this. I tell long and circuitous stories that provide a rich picture of a time or place in my life. Sometimes I forget where it was all going, but not often.

I'm very interested in minds, consciousness, and power.

When I was a child I did gymnastics.

PHILOSOPHY

If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing.

Fun is revolutionary.

Be yourself, and let others be themselves too.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm travelling far and wide! I've done a little bit of hosting in the US, but now I'm going to be meeting people and trying to find fun stuff to do far away from my homeland.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've done just a bit of surfing in Mexico, and a bit of hosting in the US. It has been great!

Interests

bikes and bike touring, music (mostly acoustic), new musical instruments, alternate economic systems (other than buying and selling!), ecology, farming and gardening, reading and writing, food

• arts
• writing
• singing
• dancing
• education
• dining
• chocolate
• gardening
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• cycling
• surfing
• gymnastics
• ecology
• teaching
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

I love what I call "world folk" music. I love a lot of folk, country, and bluegrass music in the US, and I see those genres having a lot of history, as does folk music from other parts of the world. I am almost always in the mood to hear music that is new to me!

I'm not too into pop or electronic music, but can get down to it at a dance party.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In the summer of 2011, I bike toured through the remote wilderness of Michigan's upper peninsula. I would highly recommend it!

Teach, Learn, Share

i can show you how to strum a guitar, do a cartwheel, cure hiccups, cover stuff in chocolate, or get over your fear of leeches. i know about fermenting and pickling some kinds of foods! it's really fun, easy, and healthy!

I've been a public school teacher in the US, but I really value non-institutional education more. I'm an anarchist - but not the kind who does damage at protests. I think education is really great and important if it is empowering to people rather than perpetuating the powers that be! That's why I love to learn from people and to share what I can as well.

I really want to play a Hang drum, so if you can share one with me, I would love it!

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, United States

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