Hi! My name is Joe and I'm originally from Ontario, Canada! As a kid, I was almost always outdoors in the countryside, shoeless and shirtless, covered in mud or playing with friends. As a teenager, I was always alone and playing games on my computer. I moved out at 18 and started working with computers and studying programming shortly thereafter. When I was done with college, I moved to the other side of Canada and started exploring the Rocky Mountains. Bought a pair of skis, went to the top of one of the biggest skihills, and learned how to ski for the first time by wiping out all the way down the mountain.

A year or two later, having never really properly travelled anywhere or spent the night outside of my own bed, I decided to sell everything and get a backpack. I like doing things all-in or not at all! I wandered west without any idea where I'd sleep most nights and found myself having done a full lap around the world a little over a year later. Prior to that trip, I was extremely anxious and hesitant; I had to force myself into that situation. By the end of it, I was a whole new person in a sense.

I found myself penniless and homeless, worked my way back up the 9-5 office job ladder and found myself at another crossroads two years later: Quit the job that wasn't going anywhere and find another, or go travel again. I had met a girl while there and she was open to the idea of travel! That was last year, and we ended up living in the Gouda, Netherlands of all places.

Rather than pick up another office job, I decided use my programming skills to solve a problem which I really believe in solving. A year later and my project has gained the interest of angel investors in Silicon Valley! So it looks like my next stop has been decided: Silicon Valley and running my own startup! it's gonna be awesome. :)

You can check out my girlfriend's profile here: https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/winki-t (we are traveling together)

Shared Airbnb profile with my girlfriend: https://www.airbnb.ca/users/show/14752814 (if you want to read more reviews)

Cheers!!!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I really do believe that the best way to get to know a place is to get to know the people living there. Plus, you can make some amazing new friendships.

Interests

I am very detail oriented and love to learn new things. I love being in the outdoors, but work as a software developer and computers take up a significant amount of my free time.

• photography
• video games
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• history
• computer programming

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Without ever having left the comfort of a place that I could call home, I sold all of my belongings except for what I could carry, and left. I had no idea where I was going to go and it was a major test of my character... it all worked out. :)

Teach, Learn, Share

Have a question about computers, the internet, how websites work, or software? Well you'd be the first hahaha, I'd love to answer any questions you might have.

What I Can Share with Hosts

If you want someone to be friends with and have a good time, I'm down for it. Let's go. :)

If you just want to relax, I'll stay out of your hair and do my own thing. I have no problem with that either.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Netherlands