CURRENT MISSION

To find absolute enjoyment in the absurdity of life

ABOUT ME

Hi there. I own a Master's degree in the Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development, and a Bachelor's in International Studies, specializing in Asian Languages & Literature. I have three amazingly cool brothers that I love to pieces. I’ve studied Nippon Kempo in Japan and Ji Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do in the States. I was president of my university’s Karate Club for three years. I've volunteered in reforestation in the south of India and have spent time learning from the good people of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. I taught at an orphanage in Ecuador, mothering children that deserve much more than they’ll ever be given in life and I've tagged wild birds for a research initiative in the rainforest of Mindo. These days I'm into rock climbing, reading, listening to records, sketching and chess. I work in Milwaukee's nonprofit community ensuring that the very best organizations that give people the dignity & independence they're entitled to, get the funding and support they need to continue making needle-moving change for my community. I focus on programs around food security, support of our elderly population, financial independence, and immigration & refugee services. Life has given me its fair share of ups & downs but I try to not let bad times get the best of me. I love love. I've always been fascinated with death. I’m a radically honest person and I’m awful with small talk. My life is an exceptionally happy one.

PHILOSOPHY

I feel like life is an incredibly short amount of time and the earth is so surprisingly small that I should really make the most of both while I have them.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted and been hosted using this wonderful platform.

Interests

I love seeing live music. I love spending an afternoon reading in a cafe. I love rock climbing. I love love and kind-hearted but existential people.

• birds
• literature
• sketching
• dining
• clubbing
• chess
• reading
• music
• live music
• rock climbing
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

I really love everything by Milan Kundera, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Basic Writings of Chuang Tzu, The poetry of Dylan Thomas and Jim Carroll, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, David Foster Wallace, David Markson; Colin Stetson, Animal Collective, Wire, Suicide, Gang of Four, The Talking Heads, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Lou Reed, Manu Chao, Devendra Banhart, Metronomy, James Blake, Nina Simone; The Fountain, Girl on the Bridge, Gerry, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, There Will Be Blood, Before Sunset/Sunrise, Zoolander, Wayne's World, and Darjeeling Limited.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I tricked a research team into thinking I was fascinated with birds so I could join on a project catching and tagging wild birds in a rainforest in Ecuador.

Teach, Learn, Share

I would love to play chess with my hosts! I am bad at speaking Spanish, so I would like to learn Spanish from anyone who would be willing to teach.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bahamas, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United Kingdom, United States

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