My name is Jordan and, I suppose that at the moment, my life is based on travel. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in April, and since I have hiked a section of the Appalachian Trail, lived and worked on a permaculture farm in Georgia (U.S.), travelled for 6 weeks throughout the U.K., worked at a small cafe in Philadelphia for three months to save up more money, and I am now heading out again on my way to New Zealand for a year.
I would consider myself a very thoughtful person; I am constantly seeking meaning in my life, and travel, at this stage of my life, is where I find that most.
I would also consider myself very kind, and a majority of my thoughts and efforts go toward understanding others and expressing love to others.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

While in New Zealand, I plan to (very slowly...) backpack from Auckland down south, WWOOFing and getting small jobs along the way to sustain myself. There will undoubtedly be gaps of time where I need a place to stay as well as a kind person to stay with, which is why I would also like to supplement my travels with couch surfing. In addition, couch surfing is a wonderful cultural exchange that will allow me to fully immerse myself into the local cultures of the areas that I visit. I love to learn from new people, and am hoping that my couch surfing hosts will help to teach me something.

Interests

I am very interested in doing things outdoors, I was a white water rafting guide guide and caving guide for four years, I am certified in wilderness first aid, I snowboard and I climb, and I really just try to spend as much time as possible hiking and being outside. My main attraction to New Zealand is the incredible landscapes, geology, and ecology, and most of my travels will be by foot in remote areas.

I am also very interested in art. The forms that I use most commonly are photography and writing, but I love to learn about the expression of others and have a lot of appreciation for ANY form of art or expression. I stayed with a woman in Pittsburgh who was an ecstatic dancer, and that was one of the most interesting forms of expression I have recently witnessed!

I love to cook and put a lot of effort into food sourcing and all things food-related. I read a lot and I listen to a lot of music (and try to participate in creating music when the time is right).

Really, there are very few things in this world that I find un-interesting. I am constantly seeking new experiences to learn from, so I would love to stay with anyone that is also passionate about this beautiful life.

• arts
• writing
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• spelunking
• surfing
• snowboarding
• ecology
• geology
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm really bad at narrowing things down to favorites....

Music: Devendra Banhart, Andrew Bird, Fleetwood Mac, Modest Mouse, Cat Power, Dr. Dog, Iron & Wine (these are just the things on the top of my head)

Authors that have been very big influences: Thich Nhat Hahn, Aldo Leopold, Edward Abbey, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Alan Watts, Paulo Coelho

What I Can Share with Hosts

Joy and love and unique knowledge

Countries I’ve Visited

England, Germany, Scotland, Wales