I'm the guy who changes the toilet paper role when it's finished. - My one sentence bio.

Details/expansion:
Hi! My name is Julian and I'm originally from a small town outside Toronto, Canada. When I was about 9, I moved to New Jersey, between New York City and Philadelphia. After high school I was lucky enough to spend a year in the Middle East studying at a university in Jerusalem and teaching English.
I've also been lucky enough to spend many years as a camp counselor and head of boys camp at 2 month long summer camps in the US, as well as being a counselor in Ukraine as part of efforts to re-vitalize former Soviet Union communities. I also have extensive experience staffing youth groups and teen leadership programs (not to mention some great stories to tell!)

In short, I love education in all its forms, particularly learning by experiencing, and I hope to be able to share experiences with you, and bring those back to my communities while enriching you and yours!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I believe in striving to create the world I want to live in, and Couchsurfing, people helping people and making friends along the way, is a part of that community.

Also, I'm striving to explore the world on a student budget.

Interests

• education
• walking
• politics
• history
• fun
• people
• personal development
• discussion
• comedy
• meeting new people
• personal growth

Music, Movies, and Books

Not a huge music guy, though I definitely appreciate classic rock, and am happy to listen to anything.

Favourite movies include any and all things Disney, Shawshank Redemption, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Casablanca, Crazy, Stupid Love, Anchorman, Austen Powers, Doctor Stangelove, etc. Always willing to watch anything except Horror/Thriller.

Favourite Books include Tuesdays With Morrie, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Eragon, Freakonomics and Malcolm Gladwell, Lord of The Rings, etc. Always excited to start a new book!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Last summer I was lucky enough to spend 2 weeks in Cherkassey, Ukraine (centre of the country, along the Dneprov river) running a sumemr camp designed to revitalize and empower the community there after decades of Soviet/Communist rule. (yes, they're still recovering).
It was amazing to get to know the grandparents and parents who had been born and raised in the communist system but were nevertheless some of the sweetest, warmest, and most welcoming people I have ever met, despite the language barrier. The children too were the most cheerful, upbeat, excited about life kids I have ever met, not to mention almost completely tri-lingual by age 15. The community changed me for the better in the 15 days I spent with them, and I hope to be able to return this summer and continue our relationships.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love teaching English and am always happy to teach!

The greatest thing I have to share, however, are my experiences. Though I left Canada while still fairly young, I have always felt Canadian, and return frequently (to visit family and friends). I have the experience of growing up simultaneously in Canada and America, and the pressures, expectations, benefits, and negatives of each community.

I try to live everyday with the idea that it can be a great day, and that I should strive to create the world I want to live in, and I want my sister, parents, family, and friends to live in. I try to live by my values with every decision, and to have a fun, interesting, and exciting time doing it.

I once spent a week in Georgia with nothing but a few textbooks and met some incredible people, and I've lived and experienced national conflict with people on both sides of the issue, hearing about and experiencing loss with members of each. What I have to share are my experiences, and I hope to increase those experiences and my understanding of the world from hearing yours.

Even if we're not traveling/hosting together, I'd love to meet up for a meal, hot chocolate, or a beer!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Similar to what I wrote above- A love of the world and all its complexities. Specifically those parts I've been able to explore from hiking, climbing, and kayaking, to global politics and their effects on people in Ukraine, the Middle East, and lately the United States.

In short, I can share my experiences, and if you give me the opportunity, I'd love to listen to, absorb, and eventually share yours as well.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Israel, Netherlands, Ukraine, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Israel, United States