I'm a nice, considerate, well-travelled, excitable, good smelling guy. I have lived all over the world including Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Southern Scotland, Bangkok, and since 2023, Lyon France! (adventures documented on instagram: @justinkprim)

I'm dedicated to my passion which is cutting gemstones and writing about the history of gem cutting. It's a project that is taking me around the world and has led me to meet many great people with great stories. Before I was a gem cutter, all my free time was spent making music. I've also travelled a lot! (Feel free to check out my articles here: www.justinkprim.com)

My life motto is "Excitement, Adventure, and Really Wild Things"

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love couchsurfing and have used it extensively in my European and American travels. In the last decade, living in Chicago and San Francisco, I have hosted lots of people and made a lot of new friends! I think couchsurfing is really important in the world for meeting strangers, breaking down barriers in language and culture, and remembering that we are all human!

I started using CouchSurfing in 2007 when I went to Europe for the first time. We couchsurfed every night and even attended a CS weekend camping party. We came home and started hosting immediately. In 2012, I traveled around Europe and the Middle East by myself and CS led me to many life changing experiences and many new friends. In 2013, I spent a month road tripping around England and once again CS helped me out. In 2015, I travelled the UK for 5 months exploring the sacred sites of Merlin for a book I'm working on. I met so many amazing people through last minute couchsurf's that have I have remained friends with and I look forward to going back to visit soon.

Interests

The Mystery, walking, eating, reading, biking, music, being social, adventures, gem cutting, baked goods, travel stories, minimalist lifestyle choices, jewelry design, singing, vegetarian food (especially Indian!!), fantasy worlds in books... I get obsessed with what I love!

• culture
• books
• dining
• wine
• beer
• vegetarian
• yoga
• meditation
• walking
• reading
• traveling
• magic
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• history
• tourism
• art
• reading books
• museums
• medieval
• medieval history
• baroque
• renaissance
• lapidary
• gemstones
• gemology
• gems
• gemcutting
• faceting

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
I really love a lot of my friends music. but also a lot of other things. To name just a few; Telefon Tel Aviv, Jan Jelinek, Aesop Rock, ODB, Lungfish, Joan of Arc. I love world music of all kinds especially vocal music from Bulgaria.

Books:
The Invisibles, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Illuminatus Trilogy, Harry Potter, Dune series, Tao Te Ching, Moonchild, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Crimethinc, The Alchemist, Food of the Gods, Ishmael, Nada Brahma, Hazarat Inayat Khan, Philip K. Dick, HP Lovecraft, Merlin/Arthurian legends, epic fantasies, Stephen King, books about gem cutting, and Renaissance Art/history books!

Movies:
The Holy Mountain, The Matrix, Fight Club, Ikiru, Amelie, The Lord of the Rings, Ghostbusters, Kurosawa, Constantine, Donnie Darko, Pan's Labyrinth, Kubrick, David Lynch, Jodorowsky, and of course, Harry Potter.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I moved from the US to Thailand with no money but a big dream and somehow I accomplished it. I went to gemology school, helped start a school, got a work permit and an amazing house, made lots of new friends, and fell in love along the way. Now I get to live my dream by working in the gem trade and teaching people to cut stones all the time, and I get to live with my best friend and beautiful wife who is also a gemcutter!

Teach, Learn, Share

I am a Gemstone Cutter and Teacher. I am a certified Audio Engineer. I went to University for Graphic/Web Design. I taught myself how to shoot and edit videos. I have also built (almost) every bike I've ever owned. I would love to share these gifts.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I've got a lot of good travel stories to share. Also, I love sharing music. If I have my computer with me, I love to get it out and swap favorite albums with my hosts. Best thing to share is the heart but the most practical thing to share is couches. I'll stay at your place and you can stay at mine!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Scotland, Thailand, United States

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