CURRENT MISSION

On a continuing scouting mission to find "perfect" spot to settle in for the next couple years. Learning Bahasa Indonesia, and learning to code, while working my way around SE Asia.

ABOUT ME

My name is Jason. I'm an outdoor enthusiast from Washington State, in the mountainous and rainy Pacific Northwest of the USA.

I've always been a bit of a misfit and knew I didn't want a regular 9 to 5 gig. Over the years (roughly in order) I've paid the bills by working as a:

-Rock climbing instructor
-Outdoor shop salesperson
-4 AM Janitor at my university (for about 2 days!)
-Water quality lab technician and field researcher (lakes and streams etc.)
-Fast food cook
-Bartender
-Marketing director for outdoor retail company (ski/climb/bike shop/ climbing gym)
-ESL teacher in Vietnam

Now, I've finally broken free from any one location (besides the pull of friendships and relationships and great beaches) and work online helping businesses that I feel great about working with.

Growing up in Saudi Arabia and being dragged all over 5 out of 7 continents as a child deeply instilled the travel bug. So being nomadic is my preferred mode of existence, at least for now.

My dream (after getting some more travelling out of my system) is to head straight to Chicago to train at Second City in improvisational comedy, writing, and standup. I don't think that's a great way to make a living, but I just can't help myself. I love comedy.

I'm not as fit and stringy as I used to be, but I'm still in love with just about every outdoor sport there is (non-motorized, that doesn't count).

Ummm... Also a voracious reader (though I struggle to get through fiction for some reason) an avid meditator and second rate pseudo-intellectual. (In the most non-snobby, and hipster way possible).

Nothing I love more than a good, deep, conversation with another open minded person about a topic that can accommodate multiple viewpoints.

I get along with everyone, seriously, I'm friendly to a fault!

PHILOSOPHY

Compassion for others. We all tick in the same way.

Remember you're not the center of the universe, and you'll be food for worms pretty quick. So don't take yourself too seriously, and try to leave this place a little better than you found it, if possible.

Right livelihood and all that...

Not sure I'd call myself a Buddhist, that seems weird to identify oneself based on a practice, but that's basically the lens through which I view the world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm just getting started here on couchsurfing at a friends recommendation. Always thought it looked awesome, but never quite had the 'spark' to dive in and participate.

I'm a pretty gregarious guy, but don't often have the confidence to chat up random strangers to make new friends, so I hope this will be a great way to give me a little push in that direction, both by hosting and surfing.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Best couchsurfing experiences have been crashing in hammocks and reed mats on living room floors throughout villages in coastal Mexico. (Sometimes ended up stranded in areas where hotels weren't an option!)

Interests

-Reading
-Languages
-Travel
-Entrepreneurship
-Outdoor sports (esp. alpine climbing, backpacking)
-The natural world
-Good conversations
-Comedy
-Theater

• writing
• theater
• dining
• cooking
• fast food
• instructor
• meditation
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• coding
• survival
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• backpacking
• surfing
• skiing
• sports
• rock climbing
• teaching
• entrepreneurship
• languages
• beaches
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

Siddhartha, by Hernan Hesse - That's my 'desert island' book.

That man won the Nobel prize for a reason!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Summited Mt. Rainier when I was just 14 years old. I'm especially proud of it, because it was something I decided to do several years before that, and worked at getting the necessary skills to do it until it became a reality.

Teach, Learn, Share

-Online/Offline marketing
-Copywriting
-The English Language
-Rock climbing, alpine climbing, backpacking and general outdoor survival skills
-Meditation

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia, United States, Viet Nam