I am an explorer at heart, and one of my greatest passions is to meet and discover new people, new places, and new perspectives. I've been traveling for most of my life, and i belonged for a long time to a group that gets together to bond over food and share traveling stories. I have always been interested in other people and other cultures, and was the only American member of the International Club at my college. I went into college to study Psychology, yet I picked a major in Anthropology because I am interested in human beings in general, and wanted to learn about them not j from multiple perspectives, including history, literature, psychology, economics, and all other disciplines. I continued by pursuing a career in Clinical Psychology, but took time off due to a medical issue and am currently exploring other possibilities.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

When traveling, the experiences that are truly meaningful always involve other people, be it as part of the journey itself, or in retelling stories about the journey. Traveling and staying in a hotel makes it possible to visit a place, but does not necessarily offer the same experiences as visiting with friends, new or old. I am looking to meet new people, make new friends, and discover new places as those who live there experience them.

Interests

*Animals of all kinds
*Nature, hiking, backpacking, and the outdoors
*Travel
*Music
*Food
*Chinese Culture, including Tai Chi, Qigong, Taoist practices
*Japanese culture, including traditional and modern music, food, literature, history, and popular culture
*Buddhist practice, including Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, and in the tradition of Thich Nacht Hanh
*Health, Emotional, Physical, Mental, and Spiritual
*Technology and gadgets
*Reading, all genres, but especially science fiction and fantasy
*Personal growth, spirituality, and exploration

• animals
• culture
• literature
• folklore
• dining
• clubbing
• technology
• reading
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• buddhist
• rock climbing
• anthropology
• business
• economics
• entrepreneurship
• history
• psychology
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

I've listened to so much music, seen so many movies, and read so many books that it is hard to say which are favorites.

Music: I am always up for new music. One of my favorite musicians is Dar Williams, and Billy Joel

Movies: The Matrix, Star Wars, Avatar, Memento

Books: Dune series, Tao Te Ching, books by Pema Chodron, Thich Nach Hanh, and others

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

At the height of my career, I got very sick, and nearly died. I've experienced health and wellness from both the perspective of the caregiver, and the cared for, and I know what it is like to fall off the top of a mountain, get back up, and pick a new one and start climbing.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have studied most major disciplines, and have some understanding of many of them. In addition, I have explored the spiritual path, and know from the ground up what it is like to transform your life into something different. I am very familiar with psychology, different cultures, and my area of interest cognition, as well as business, entrepreneurship, and technology. I've experienced a lot of academic achievements, and then I got sick. What I hope to learn from others is to have more fun, meet new people, and to know myself.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My gift for listening, great stories, amazing ideas, and a lot of fun.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Switzerland, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

New Zealand, Spain, United States