CURRENT MISSION

Every experience is an opportunity to teach or to learn

ABOUT ME

Hello travelers! My name is Hari. I was born in Holland and grew up in Ottawa, Canada and the San Francisco Bay Area, California. I've lived in New York City and Chicago and recently moved back to the Bay Area.

In college, I studied Economics and I used to work in Finance. I left the industry and traveled/volunteered from 2008-2009, mostly in Asia and South America. It was a profound experience; one I reflect upon and am influenced by every day. I miss those days on the road.

I teach high school math and economics. I love my job and work very hard.

My other passions are music, film, books and sports. I play guitar, bass and have a mini-studio that I like to fool around in. I used to play in a reggae band and am looking to join some new projects. I love watching movies and good TV shows (Arrested Development, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Sopranos, Lost, Simpsons, Seinfeld, amongst others) and reading (recent reads are The Economist, Born to Run, Master and Margarita, Life of Pi, 100 Years of Solitude, White Tiger, Ghost Train to Eastern Star). I also enjoy cycling, hiking, playing tennis and basketball and when somewhere warmer, SCUBA diving.

Come visit and I hope to explore your city someday as well!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have surfed in Austin and Charlotte, but am looking to share couches when I embark on my next travels (domestic or international).

I have not hosted and look forward to improving my CS reputation through positive experiences now that I have settled into my new apartment in Alameda.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've surfed a couple of times and will hopefully host soon as well.

Interests

• books
• running
• motorcycles
• movies
• reading
• tv
• music
• guitar
• cycling
• hiking
• scuba diving
• sports
• basketball
• tennis
• economics
• mathematics

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Well, maybe a few more than one thing... Anything to inspire others or to start an interesting conversation: Climbed 6,088m (19,976ft) Huayna Potosi in the Cordillera Real range near La Paz, Bolivia; SCUBA diving in the Similan Islands, Thailand; Rode motorcycles to disputed, landmined and heavily armed Preah Vihear Temple on the border of Cambodia and Thailand; Trekked in the monasteries of Sikkim, under the shadow of Khangchendzonga; Trekking amongst FARC and Colombia Army in the dense jungles of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia; Trekking solo in blistering July heat amongst the goat herders along the Lycian Way on the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey. And so much more... but this is only a start, there's so much more to experience.

Teach, Learn, Share

Guitar, economics/finance/current affairs, sports, international cultures. I can share whatever knowledge and experiences I have and can learn from others. Never stop learning.