Hey All,

My name is Jamal. My first time traveling outside the country was in August 2012 when I enrolled in a school in London, UK. Since then, any and all opportunities, I am usually traveling, outdoors, and taking pictures. I am from California but there is too much to see in the world to just hang out there.

Though I have been a member for some time, I never really use this. As such, I am lacking references. So I have attached the URL to the newspaper I work for (I encourage you all to check it out) as well as my LinkedIn. Hopefully this can temporarily compensate.

http://internationalpoliticalforum.com/ipf-team/
https://www.linkedin.com/profile/preview?locale=en_US&trk=prof-0-sb-preview-primary-button

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I figured the best way to get immersed in the culture of the place I'm traveling to is to hang with some locals, simple as that.

Interests

You probably could guess but I love traveling. Photography pairs very well with this passion, allowing me to capture fleeting moments. Other then that, I am big into sports - both outdoor sports like hiking and organized sports like football and rugby. Love music, movies and food. Pretty easy going and open to new adventures.

• culture
• writing
• photography
• human rights
• dining
• politics
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• equestrian
• hiking
• sports
• soccer
• rugby
• economics

Music, Movies, and Books

Music stretches from classical to hip-hop to rock and everything in-between (except country, sorry). Books are usually those with political overtones in them; i.e. 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World, Animal Farm, At wars End, China's Second Continent, From Dictatorship to Democracy, Catch-22 and all the James Bond by Ian Fleming. Movies are generally thrillers and movies with great acting and writing- Inceptions, The Dark Night Trilogy, Goodwill Hunting, The Departed, etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've gone horseback riding and zip-lining through the Amazon.

Teach, Learn, Share

I studied economics, human rights as well as politics and have read too many peer-reviewed articles to count. I've come to the realization that I will learn as much from traveling and gaining first-hand knowledge as from studying and reading. I'm chasing experiences, good vibes and good future friends. :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm not sure exactly what I can share outside of personal experiences and good conversation, however I think thats not a bad start.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Scotland, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United Kingdom, United States