Good day! My name is Kip. I grew up downriver from Manaus, Brasil in a small town surrounded by jungle. I was raised by English-speaking parents and moved to the United States in 2009. I work as a paramedic while I am not studying for school. I love photography, footbal (futsal, full court, 7 man etc..). I am an extrovert and love to get to know new friends!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have just begun to explore the world and couch surfing seems like the best way to experience a city. I have never been interested in seeing all the large tourist locations in a city, and love to experience what locals do. I stayed in Central Italy with an Italian family for four days, and had an amazing time learning about local food, language and culture from true locals. Couch surfing seems like the best way to connect to such locals.

Interests

• photography
• music
• swimming
• football
• slackline

Music, Movies, and Books

I love all sorts of music. I grew up listening to pop opera with my mother, so I love Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, and Il Divo. I enjoy musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton, and Wicked. I also love classic American Rock from the 70's/80's and a little grunge from the 90's. I also enjoy Latin tunes such as Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue.

I also have an eclectic taste in movies. I love The Lion King, The Patriot, Braveheart, Grand Budapest Hotel, Django Unchainged, About Time, and many others!

I enjoy some fiction such as The Lord of the Rings, but also particularly enjoy non-fiction. Most recently, I read "Chasing the Scream - The Beginning and End of the War on Drugs" which was an excellent documentary-style book on the futility of the war on drugs.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I swam across the Amazon River with a friend. Where I grew up, the river was very wide and had always been a challenge to my friend Ryan and me. We started to swim across it with small Styrofoam boards as flotation devices to keep us afloat. We swam for two and a half hours until we reached the island that was in the middle of the river. We hiked up around the island and camped the night. After we swam to the other side, we hiked up the opposite side of the river and then swam out into the current to take us back. We returned after two days. It was an adventure of a lifetime, but I don't think I will do it again.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have brewed wine, beer, kombucha, and mead. I love to partake of new breweries and learn about local brewing practices. As a paramedic, I also enjoy talking about health, disease, and fitness. I am a amateur photographer, and you can check out my website! kipthephotographer.com I love to take pictures of people, but also enjoy scenery and animals. I am always happy to talk photography.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I would love to spend quality time people who understand and love the local culture. I love to give a curious ear to learn about who the host is, the host's story, and what life is like for the host. I can share stories of my travels, my strange childhood, and a perspective of the United States from a local of the south. I love to enjoy a good beer and listen to good stories.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Sweden