CURRENT MISSION

Enjoy the wonders of nature, eat delicious foods, and be open to the whatever comes my way.

ABOUT ME

I enjoy learning about different cultures and customs, which is one of the main reasons why I love to travel. The other primary reason is my love of food. When traveling, I like to walk around all day. I find that new places are best experienced on foot. Walking gives me ample time to experience a place through the use of all of my senses and it works up my appetite!

I am somewhat introverted, but enjoy being around people. While I may not assert myself too often in conversations, I enjoy asking and receiving questions from interested people. I am a songwriter, I play football (soccer) and ultimate frisbee, I use my library card frequently, and I love to cook. I am self-employed and enjoy having flexibility with when/where I work. I'm very independent and a mellow person. I'd much rather hang out with a few friends at one of our homes and enjoy each other's company through cooking, playing boardgames, and doing craft projects.

PHILOSOPHY

What's most important to me is spending time with people that I care about. I strive to be open to what life throws my way and not be too discouraged if that contradicts my plans. I believe that it's important to be involved and invested in one's community. I try to surround myself with people who share a similar outlook on life and are open to exploring the world and enjoy the beauty that exists all around us.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've hosted folks at my home in Oregon and have surfed a handful of times abroad. I like to make meals with my guests and I can offer kindness, pints, and food in exchange for a place to sleep. If you're looking to stay at my house be sure to read through the "My Home" section of my profile!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

All of my surfing experiences have been incredibly positive and enjoyable. My past experiences have shown me that traveling is more enriching when you can connect with locals. Through their conversation, hospitality, and kindness, one gets a better sense of the culture and can experience a new place with more perspective. I enjoy hosting travelers as well; it's great to hear people's stories and to provide them with a comfortable place to stay during their travels. I'm always impressed with the kindness of strangers and how much of a difference it makes in people's lives and experiences.

Interests

Eating and cooking food, playing and listening to music, trekking, riding my bicycle, reading, walking, swimming in rivers and lakes, backgammon, cribbage, drinking tea/coffee, looking at maps, playing football (soccer) and ultimate frisbee, and Magic the Gathering.

• culture
• beauty
• dining
• cooking
• cheese
• beer
• coffee
• working out
• walking
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• music
• surfing
• soccer
• swimming
• cartography
• tourism
• volunteering
• lakes
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: The Brothers K, Mink River, The Hobbitt, Lonesome Dove, The Long Ships, Jitterbug Perfume, The Alchemist, A Song of Ice and Fire, Bonfire of the Vanities, The Cosmic Serpent, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed, The Name of the Wind, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families

Movies: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pulp Fiction, Fast Time at Ridgemont High, O' Brother Where Art Thou?, Planet Earth, Dazed and Confused, Jackie Brown, Short Term 12, La grande bellezza, 12 Years a Slave, Her, Spirited Away

Music: Phish, Radiohead, Björk, Tool, Dr. Dog, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Wilco, Dawes, Jonathan Wilson, Fitz & The Tantrums, Mayer Hawthorne, Rage Against The Machine, Black Sabbath, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Exploring the Angkor temples in Siem Reap. Riding my bicycle for a week through the Central Oregon desert. Cooling off in a desert oasis. Adopting and holding a penguin. The vast number of people riding bicycles in Denmark/Netherlands. The snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas from the Tsum Valley. Sewing a quilt out of old t-shirts. Presenting my graduate research at an international conference in Washington D.C. Eating an impromptu lunch with Vietnamese honey farmers in Ha Giang province. Volunteering at the zoo and playing with goats, sheep, donkeys, pigs, and elephants.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can tell you about some beautiful places to explore in Oregon, teach you about making kombucha, beer, and other fermented things, and how to properly dress for the Oregon weather through the use of multiple layers and wool. I'm always interested in learning new things, so you're encouraged to share what you know.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, England, France, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Scotland, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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