CURRENT MISSION

Currently a physician and just moved back to California after 13 years.

ABOUT ME

Born and raised in Orange County but lived the good life ocean-side at the University of California, Santa Barbara before moving to Shanghai, China and then Ensenada, Baja California, México.
Now I'm finally back in California.
I like to spend my free days surfing and traveling.

My favorite hobbies have included:
-Beach life
-Surfing
-Scuba diving
-Motorcycle rides along the coast and through the mountains
-Rock climbing
-Disneyland
-Drinking, dancing
-Watching movies
-Sports: beach volleyball, football, rugby, weightlifting, dragonboat racing/rowing,

on CS for friends - my source of new places to go, new sights to see and new things to do - love to relate with others and talk some good travel stories

PHILOSOPHY

Perspective is everything.. and well, traveling is what helps us all gain a little bit of perspective and understanding

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Couchsurfed:
Yann - Geneva, Switzerland August 26-->August 28, 2010
Fanny - Lyon, France August 28-->August 30, 2010
Chiya - Taipei, Taiwan November 2-->November 5, 2011

Couch hosted:
Fanny - Santa Barbara, CA September 3--> September 18
Yann and Romain - October 26 --> November 4
Lydia, Belle, Vivian Martino - Santa Barbara, California October 30

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

All amazing experiences I've gotten lucky to meet literally the most awesome people and had the best time with friends and their families

both my couch hosts in Switzerland made it out to Santa Barbara for a visit as did my host in France for 'round the world visits.

Interests

Surfing, scuba diving (mostly thailand and philippines), motorcycle riding, snowboarding, beach volleyball, dancing , friends , int'l business, swimming, cooking

• dancing
• cooking
• drinking
• movies
• traveling
• surfing
• scuba diving
• snowboarding
• sports
• baseball
• rock climbing
• soccer
• volleyball
• swimming
• business
• languages
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

BOOKS
The Drifters by James A Michener - This book has easily been one of my biggest inspirations. It tells the story of 6 youths who all come from very different backgrounds/countries/families/etc., who all meet in Torremolinos, Spain by chance and embark on travels together. Each character has their unique experience and intellect that inspires you to go on your own adventure for knowledge and life experience.
The World is Flat, Thomas L. Friedman. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Anything by Aldous Huxley. Padre Rico, Padre Pobre.
MUSIC
I like mostly anything and everything. My playlist ranges from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, to cheesy 90s music like Marcy Playground, Harvey Danger, Tonic, Everclear, Goo Goo Dolls, Creed, Lifehouse, Taking Back Sunday, Ash, Yellowcard, Third Eye Blind, to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, Sublime, to the music I grew up on like Ricardo Arjona, Gloria Estefan, Juanes, Kumbia Kings, Maná, Paulina Rubio, Shakira to electronica Glitch Mob, Duck Sauce, Tiesto, Swedish House Mafia, Justice, Pendulum, MSTRKRFT, to Bob Marley, every Cirque du Soleil soundtrack

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Medical Missions
I made several trips to the Andes mountains in Peru where I volunteered as a translator with the Peruvian American Medical Society. As a team of approximately 50 physicians and 100 volunteers we set up in a hospital in a small poverty stricken town, Ayacucho. We offer free consultations, free medication, and free surgeries to those unable to afford such care. In addition we do a fluoridation campaign to the elementary schools, and bring gifts to the local orphanage. Since I volunteered as a translator I got to work in Pathology, Pediatrics, Cardiology, Pharmacy, Optometry, as well as the Operating Rooms; all of which were phenomenal experiences.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Mexico, United States

• 

•