Three things I love: travelling, making art, and being outdoors. The three tend to blend into one thing for me.

I'm Joey, 27 years old, gay, live in Washington, DC. I'm an artist, certified ESL teacher, and outdoor instructor. Born and raised in South Carolina, and went to school there as well. I studied art and international relations and also got my English teaching certificate. My first time travelling, I studied abroad in Norway for a semester, and ended up staying a year. I fell in love with all things Nordic, and travelling too.

I spend a lot of time outdoors, and most things I do revolve around that in some way. I'm a pretty avid rock climber (sport + trad) and boulderer and always looking for new spots to climb as well as new climbing partners! I also love camping, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and pretty much anything I can do outside. Usually skiing when the snow is right, and hoping to venture into ice-climbing for the first time this winter. I'm very interested in maps, cartography, and orienteering, and I'm also getting into (very) amateur mycology and foraging. I try to always give back some of my time to preserving the outdoors, and always be mindful of its importance.

I'm a very accepting and open-minded guy + easy to get along with, and love meeting people and exploring new places. That said, I'm very much an introvert and can be quiet at times. I usually recharge by making art (printmaking, sculpture, and illustration), reading, and when I'm home, playing video games (currently Zelda and Pokemon). I love animals, have two dogs and fish, a garden, and am vegetarian. Been to Bonnaroo a few times as well as other music festivals and I love live music, or a night out. Always up for an adventure!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm here to meet some new people, cultural exchange, find climbing partners, Pokemon Go players, explore new places, learn about the world, and have some awesome experiences with fellow wanderers.

I'm currently gearing up for a big trip (summer/fall 2019) to Mexico, Japan, Morocco, and Senegal.

Interests

As often as I can get away with it, I like to head to the woods, mountains, or beach to hike, camp, kayak, or just relax in a hammock. Really enjoy rock climbing, and always looking for new spots to climb, as well as new climbing partners! If its winter, I am most likely skiing. Otherwise, if I'm not outside, I am probably reading, working on some art, or playing video games.

• folklore
• music festivals
• cooking
• vegetarian
• yoga
• running
• video games
• reading
• traveling
• drawing
• bouldering
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• camping
• skiing
• rock climbing
• swimming
• cartography
• languages
• art
• mythology
• cultures
• trekking
• biking
• sci-fi
• printmaking
• illustration
• sculpture
• fantasy
• ice climbing
• mycology
• pokémongo

Music, Movies, and Books

Music tastes change weekly but some constant favorites: Little Dragon, Röyksopp, Grimes, Phantogram, Florence + the Machine, Susanne Sundfør, Broken Bells, Fleet Foxes, Crystal Castles, etc etc. And there will always a reverent spot for Sufjan Stevens in my music library.

Some favorite authors: David Mitchell, Haruki Murakami, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King. I read a lot of different things, but I definitely have a soft spot for magical realism and dark fantasy.

My taste in movies is very similar to my taste in books. I'll watch pretty much anything once.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Skiied fresh snow in Sweden, got way too familiar with an Olympic ski jump in Norway (ask me about it sometime), dog sledded in Lapland, rappelled down a sea cliff above crashing waves in Acadia, ME just to climb back up again, explored many of the beautiful national parks in the U.S.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am by no means an expert, but I love to draw together and share techniques. Or just throwing paint at something, that's fun too. Also love instructing new rock climbers, sharing a homemade meal, or exchanging language and cultural knowledge. As for what I want to learn, teach me anything new and I will be forever grateful. Especially if it involves language, cooking, or a musical instrument!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Happy to share any of my knowledge or skills, language, culture, a good meal, drink, or just a good conversation!

Countries I’ve Visited

Egypt, France, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Norway, United States