Hello! I'm new to the couch surfing site, and I'm excited to be among so many enthusiastic travelers!

I am a down to earth guy that loves to get out of the house. Mainly I want to record the places I travel through drawings and paintings, so I always have a set of gouache paints and a moleskine at my side.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am an art teacher in Qingdao China. My plan is to work here for 4 years, and explore as much of East Asia as possible. If I can get to Europe, Australia, or Japan that would be a plus!

My intention is to paint and draw everything I see! I know that's not possible, but I want to at least capture the moments that are very special. I will be taking a moleskine with me on my travels and making drawings and goauche paintings of the people and the places I visit.

I want to eventually create a book that is full of these drawings and stories that I record. A sort of memoir of my time abroad.

Interests

I love to paint, and I love to scour a museum! Hiking and exploring the country is an interest of course.

Here is a small list of other things I take interest in.
- Playing the Bass Guitar
- Reading Poetry
- Rock Climbing
- Beat Boxing (I won't do this in front of you if it is not wanted)
- Longboarding
- Trying new food!!

• arts
• books
• poetry
• dining
• cooking
• running
• walking
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• drawing
• guitar
• hiking
• surfing
• boxing
• rock climbing

Music, Movies, and Books

Music... Right now it has to be listening to Salsa music, but I enjoy these others as well.
- Swing (I'm also learning to do East Coast Swing Dancing)
- Bon Iver
- Chet Faker
- Metal (I was in a metal band in high school so I never stopped loving the intensity)
- Classical (anything with a cello)
- Film Scores! (There Will Be Blood is great background music)

Movies... I can be a movie snob at times, but I generally enjoy the act of going to the movies even if the film isn't that great.
- Stalker by Tarkovsky
- The Seventh Seal
- Blade Runner
- The Shining
- Anything by Miyazaki

Books... I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo at the moment and enjoy the plot, and the drama that is being built.
-Moby Dick
-100 Years of Solitude
- 1Q84
- Pablo Neruda
- Sonnet 60

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was once tazed by a group of kids in downtown Cincinnati. I'm not sure why they did it, but I think it was a type of gang initiation. I was walking back from school (undergraduate) and was blind sided by three guys. I heard the taser before I felt it and instinctively knew to pull away from it. This kept me from being frozen to one place or taking any more voltage from the taser, and allowed me to get away from the weapon. I don't think they expected me not go down, and started to turn and run. I of course was dazed but infuriated that this had happened and gave chase. I chased them down to their car where they made their escape. No justice was served, but I know now that I can at least take some electricity.

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach a variety of Art Courses. Ranging from Figure Drawing to Plein Air Painting.

I want to learn how to cook better.

I like sharing stories! Also I like giving people the drawings I make of them!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share my knowledge of art and the practice of drawing. If hosts are willing I would like to draw or paint them. I am willing to give the host a drawing for their troubles. My website is

juliolabra.com

If you are interested in the work I've done.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Italy