CURRENT MISSION

To skate on the ice of experience and meet other skaters who can make sure I don't fall through the cracks

ABOUT ME

Born in the small, little known country of America, I grew up close to the provincial town of New York. Growing up, I was primarily involved in theater and music. I acted in many plays, musicals, and improv sketches. I learned to play trumpet and guitar. At university I majored in Political Science, though in my last years I became interested more in English and Russian Literature. I started to learn Russia and eventually moved to the beautiful country of Kyrgyzstan, in order to develop Russian and teach English. After some travels in Europe and time spent back home replenishing my bank account, I flew off to Colombia, where I taught in a public high school and began to learn Spanish.

PHILOSOPHY

Always question life, but don't be disgruntled by a distasteful answer. Love, laugh, lie down.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have not surfed very much as of yet, though I hope to do much more in the future. I have never hosted, though I hope to one day.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first couchsurfing experience was a real joy. In Memphis, Tennessee, two friends and I stayed with a retired couple who were so overwhelmingly hospitable to us. They shared with us the room of their grown children and offered us valuable advice on seeing the most of their city. Their kindness and hospitality astonished me and put me at great ease and excitement with the Couchsurfing project.

Interests

I am interested in literature, music in its many varieties, languages (which I woefully became interested in a tad bit late), hiking, exploring history (in artifacts, relics, or thought), expanding my glossary of human personalities, and simply enjoying life with other people.

• literature
• theater
• music
• guitar
• trumpet
• hiking
• history
• languages
• political science
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Three of my great loves. I could talk all day about music, movies, and books. My tastes are mainly classic, but I always try to fill in the massive gaps in my knowledge. My favorite authors include Shakespeare, Joyce, and Tolstoy. My favorite composer is without question Beethoven, though I also greatly enjoy some Romantics, including Schubert, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, and others. My first and lasting loves in music are Classic Rock artists. I have been listening to Bob Dylan, Velvet Underground, Neil Young, Paul Simon, and others of their class for time immemorial. My favorite Jazz artists are probably Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman. There are many modern artists I also enjoy, and I adore live music. My taste in popular music is eclectic, though admittedly rather kosher. There are many movies which I love, though if I had to pick three, they might be Children of Paradise(Les Enfants du Paradis), The Seventh Seal (Det sjunde inseglet), and Manhattan.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have experience teaching my native language, English. My Russian and Spanish are happily at a point where I can explain the fundamentals without too much confusion. I love to play music and I can help anyone with guitar basics. Beyond that, I'm useless.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Netherlands, Scotland, Slovakia, United Kingdom, United States, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, United States