“Wherever I go, people understand me. They understand my soul. This continues to give me hope. When I read about clashes around the world — political clashes, economic clashes, cultural clashes — I am reminded that it is within our power to build a bridge to be crossed. Even if my neighbour doesn’t understand my religion or my politics, he can understand my story. If he can understand my story, then he’s never too far from me. It is always within my power to build a bridge. There is always a chance for reconciliation, a chance that one day he and I will sit around a table together and put an end to our history of clashes. And on this day, he will tell me his story and I will tell him mine.”

Paulo Coelho

I lovvvve this beautifully articulated perspective. This is what I aspire to be, a philosophy I try to live by. Complete from barriers built, fueled by curiosity, building my foundation in understanding.
((Key word *aspire* ;))

A little about me: At 18 I left the dry dry dryyy (in more ways than terrain) oil town of west Texas and obliviously jumped into a seasonal job in the raw open, and fucking beautiful land of Alaska and haven't stopped since. I've been bouncing around the Americas (north and south) since around 18ish but really got the ball rollin' around 20. After falling, crashing and burning.. then getting back at it more times than I'd honestly like to admit, I have now found myself madly in love with New Orleans. My philosophy to this crazy life is work hard play hard. Work to justify your play, play=travel. This is mostly because of amazing, interesting, out-of-the box, non-fuck givers, I come into constant contact with (probably), ((hopefully)), like you!

If you want to see more, follow my current mess of a beautiful life on Instagram @chasingsympatheia

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've always traveled budget style but not just because of the money. When you have everything set up for you (hotel, tours, plane rides, etc.) you miss part of the adventure. You're not uncomfortable, you're, in my opinion, missing the biggest part of growth through traveling which is the adventure into the unknown. I love this site because not only do you get to have a local experience in a place you wouldn't normally have the opportunity but you meet these amazing people that want to learn and share with you. I have made so many life long friends through this website, learned how to cook empanadas and make caipirinhas, and gone on adventures I'll be talking about for the rest of my life.

180 Degrees South quote | Jeff Johnson | The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask.

Interests

Dancing, eating delicious food, cooking delicious food, trail running, mountain biking, hiking, drinking the great varietals of each country, challenging my mind and my liver

Amateur at: Slack-lining | Paddle-boarding | Yoga | Long-boarding | Acro-Yoga | Wake-boarding | Horse-riding | Long boarding | Tennis | Photography | Travel/Creative Writing | Mountain Climbing | Snorkeling

• culture
• dancing
• dining
• wine
• running
• drinking
• traveling
• juggling
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• surfing
• trail running

Music, Movies, and Books

Everything 70's and early 80's (motown, rock and roll, pop, disco) 90's hip hop and anything catchy, including mainstreams. Just not Katy Perry's fireworks. That's just a bit too catchy.

Otis Redding | Shaky Graves | Chance the Rapper | Frank Sinatra | Bob Dylan | Elton John | Leon Bridges | Van Morrison | Queen | Bruno Mars | Anderson Paak | Al Green | Jose Gonzales | The Roots | Lady Gaga

The Alchemist | Graveyard | Vagabonding | Ego is the Enemy | The Man Who Quit Money | The Obstacle is the Way | Alice in Wonderland | Anything by Brene Brown | Thug Kitchen | How to be a Stoic | Daring Greatly | When Breath Becomes Air | Eleanor Roosevelt You Learn by Living | Alan Watts |

Podcasts: Tim Ferris | Invisibility | TedTalk Radio Hour | Things you Should Know | Dan Carlins Hardcore history

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hitchhiked from Argentina through Chile up to Peru

Teach, Learn, Share

The way you do anything is the way you do everything

What I Can Share with Hosts

Home cooked dinners, cheap wine, stories, spontaneity, music, dancing, more wine.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Belize, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, United States Minor Outlying Islands

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States, United States Minor Outlying Islands