ABOUT ME

I think they would say that I smile a lot, am very kind, and have a voracious laugh. I have a calm demeanor and believe that peace and satisfaction in life is found inside of oneself and not through possessions. I am more introverted than extroverted and usually prefer to do less talking and more listening.

PHILOSOPHY

Be kind to others and open to new experiences. I'm very interested in what it means to be a human being, and what the purpose of our lives are. I suppose because of that, I want to travel around the world and learn from people who come from completely different backgrounds.

I wouldn't call myself a Buddhist, but I strongly agree with several Buddhist principles

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I don't currently have a place in San Diego that is fit to host people, but when I do live in a permanent home I would love to try hosting. For now I'm looking forward to exploring other parts of the world.

Interests

I am fascinated by languages and cultures other than my own, and have been devoting much of my free time to learning how to speak, read, and write in Japanese. Each Japanese character (Kanji - from China) has a unique history that tells a story and sometimes reveals beautiful elements about Japanese and/or Chinese culture.

I'm also incedibly interested in exploring my inner world and what it means to gain mastery of one's self (emotions, thoughts, habits). People like the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh amaze me because they show what any human being is capable of in terms of living peacefully and cultivating compassion and a good approach to life.

I also think that learning from others is one of the best ways to grow and to be challenged by new experiences.

I have been an appreciator of the outdoors since I was very young. I love backpacking and having the time to sit in silence in nature and truly be present there.

I have been practicing the art of mindfulness in every day life for about 1.5 years now, based on the traditions of Thich Nhat Hanh. I am fascinated by the human potential and what we can accomplish both externally and internally given the right circumstances and attitude.

• arts
• culture
• cooking
• meditation
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• calligraphy
• history
• languages
• neuroscience

Music, Movies, and Books

I love to read, and enjoy listening to music and watching movies with others. I like documentaries that teach me something or inspire me.

I also really like Japanese Anime. My favorite is Naruto, but I also watch Hunter X Hunter and Toriko.

Books:

The Power of Now
The Peaceful Warrior
Clan of the Cave Bear
Shantaram

Music:

Traditional Music from different cultures (i.e. Japanese, Chinese flute, Tibetan flute, Spanish guitar)
Movie soundtracks

Those are the types of the music that I am currently listening to if by myself, but I can enjoy most types of music

Movies:

The Gladiator
The Last Samurai
The Lord of the Rings
Shawshank Redemption
The Spanish Apartment (French movie)
IP Man

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I went backpacking above the Arctic Circle in Norway, sitting on a rock with a friend at 11:00pm/23:00 and seeing the sun still high up in the sky.

Backpacking in Sequoia National Park, California. After a long day of backpacking, we went off trail and camped in the middle of a valley. My friend and I lay with our heads outside of our tent and looked up at the sky and saw thousands upon thousands of stars (living in the city this is a very rare occurrence). The next day, on the same trip, my friend and I hiked up to around 12,000 feet and were looking directly at the sun and above the clouds.

Teach, Learn, Share

Hiker/Backpacker
Knowledge about sustainability/environmentally friendly practices
Knowledge about neuroscience and the brain
Meditation

I'd like to learn how to cook ethnic meals, learn a martial art, learn the Chinese bamboo flute, learn Japanese calligraphy, and participate in the Japanese tea ceremony and go to o-hanami

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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