I wrote this section a few years ago and it looks completely embarassing and over-the-top to me now, but I'll just leave it as-is because whatever I'd write now would be much more cynical and lacking in personality. Just pretend I'm the semi-cool hippie I was at 25.

CURRENT MISSION

I want to perceive and channel as much beauty as I possibly can.

ABOUT ME

I'm a philosopher at heart, but my language is music. I'm an introvert but I'm far from shy- I'm pretty laid back and goofy. Basically, I'm a complete band geek who comes off as cool because I've found my passion and am wholly devoted to it. I'm an intellectual and a scholar- I'm in the process of applying for doctorate programs in Anthropology.

PHILOSOPHY

Hoo boy, if I try to put anything in here, I'll end up writing a thesis. I'm a Spinozan Pantheist, that sums things up pretty well for me.

I'll say one thing... In my efforts to quell my fear of death, I try to understand what it is that makes me "me." I believe that "I" am not really separate from the universe, and my concept of individuality is illusionary. Still, what feels most like "me" is the sensation I get when I perceive something truly beautiful. I believe perfect beauty is everywhere, but I am not wise enough yet to see it. I learn and study and train so that I might become better at appreciating this beauty. If I strive to produce that sensation of awe in myself and others, that piece of "me" will live on when I'm gone. That means more to me than passing on my genes or my abilities.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

At the moment I don't, but once I get settled in mid-to-late 2016 I will.

Interests

Music is my greatest passion. The majority of my training is in classical guitar and violin, but I also play a whole slew of other genres and instruments- Flamenco guitar, fiddle (Celtic/Old Time/Turkish/Romani), tinwhistle, piano, doumbek, riq, etc.

• writing
• beauty
• flamenco
• dining
• recipes
• indian food
• meditation
• music
• folk music
• guitar
• piano
• violin
• cycling
• anthropology
• philosophy

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A few years ago I was playing my violin in a barn on a large campsite with lots of people. I was improvising at 2:00 AM, and a man walked in with his son. They stayed for an hour and listened- I didn't even realize they were there until I was done. As I was packing up, the man approached me and said that his son was severely autistic and had significant problems with auditory stimuli- he couldn't tolerate loud noises or most music. However, the boy insisted on staying and listening to me play as long as he could. I choked back tears and thanked them both- I'm used to getting compliments, but I put on a bit of a show whenever I know people are listening. I didn't know they were there, so they were hearing whatever raw components of my soul pour out in solitary improvisation. The fact that they appreciated it so much meant more to me than a million "Great job!"s from anyone else.

I was once riding my bike along a trail in New Paltz, NY, and it started getting a bit dark. The canopy of the trees up ahead darkened, and I thought that what I was seeing up ahead was an old train tunnel- however, the tunnel never got any closer. It was a trick of the dimming light, making it appear as if the tunnel was moving further and further away. All I could hear was the sound of my tires gently scraping over the dirt. In that moment, I felt as if nothing could be more perfect. It was as if I had suddenly visited a completely alien world and was marveling at the grandeur of it- I think Buddhists call it "mindfulness."

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach classical guitar and violin, so I could give a few impromptu lessons. I could also teach some neat recipes for Indian food or some meditation practices I've learned.

I'd like to learn anything relevant to my interests- like any of the above things. For example, I may be a professional classical guitarist but I'm certainly not above learning new things from a self-taught folk musician.

Countries I’ve Visited

India, Puerto Rico

Countries I’ve Lived In

Northern Ireland, United States