Hi! I'm JR, a recent grad of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia with a BS in Geography. I've been playing drums since I was a kid and played in a band (Cairo Club, check us out on BandCamp!) throughout college. As such, music is one of my biggest passions - however, I also enjoy reading, being outdoors, a good pint, and good company.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As a graduation present for myself, I'm traveling across various locations throughout Europe with a few good friends until mid-June. So far we've been to London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin, and we'll eventually be traveling through Prague, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal. I'm doing the whole thing on a post-grad budget, so I would love any opportunity I can find to meet new people!

Interests

Music is one of my biggest passions and I love the live music scene, so I'd love to experience more of that in Europe. I also enjoy a good pint (or two, or five...) at the bar or club, but also like to just socialize over a cup of coffee at a local coffeeshop. I also love being outside, especially backpacking and hiking. When by myself, I enjoy reading and gaming, as well as a good nap.

• culture
• performing arts
• coffee
• clubbing
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• live music
• drums
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• geography

Music, Movies, and Books

Some of my favorite musical artists include Tycho, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tame Impala, Alabama Shakes, and Interpol, among several other indie/funk rock artists (my band covered a lot of music with this style).

I gotta say Star Wars is my favorite movie series of all time, but I also love several other classic and newer movies such as Pulp Fiction, The Dark Knight, Lord of the Rings, and Interstellar.

Some book authors I've really been into recently include Arthur C. Clark (2001: A Space Odyssey, The Fountains of Paradise..), John Grisham, George Orwell, and others. Perhaps one of my favorite books I've read as of late is A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I played on both my high school and college drumlines, and I performed with the JMU Drumline in the 2013 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York when the JMU Marching Royal Dukes traveled to perform in the event that year. It was freezing, but amazing!

Teach, Learn, Share

Since I left the US, I've been enraptured by European cultures. In particular, I briefly studied the German language and culture in high school and since then I have always wanted to visit firsthand. I'd also obviously love to share my American cultural traits with the people I interact with abroad.

What I Can Share with Hosts

As a musician (specifically, a drummer), I would love the opportunity to share my musical experience with my hosts and meet other musicians to possibly play music together. I've played several live shows and have pretty extensive experience just jamming out during jam sessions, and it's one of my favorite things to do as a drummer. In addition I would love to share my musical tastes with my hosts through the sharing of my favorite artists and just listening to good music together.

Countries I’ve Visited

England, France

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States