Hi/Salut!

You'll find in me someone who is not only passionate about what everyone else here cares about, but also genuinely interested in learning about who you are. I grew up in a French Immersion program in the Boston area, and have been lucky enough to have traveled to quite a few countries in my life. I work full-time as a fiscal policy analyst in the Boston area, and in the past have done data analytics for political campaigns, which is one of my passions. Public service matters to me.

In my free time, you'll find me tinkering with watches, catching up on political news, reading books (fantasy, history, political history, and sci-fi mostly), spending time with my dog, and sometimes coding.

I've just discovered this site recently, so have no references. I'm choosing to participate in the forums for a few months at least, and eventually hope to make connections in Iceland - which is my dream spot to visit! I would greatly appreciate any conversations, tips, or references there. My friends can vouch for me via their personal cellphones and emails if any further confirmation is needed!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

- The idea of giving back is deeply important to me; and is reflected in both that collaborative online communities which I already participate in, particularly in the coding area, as well as my full-time job working for the government.
- Openness to new experiences has always been a core component of my character.
- The affordability is absolutely a factor for someone as young as myself, and it would be silly to not mention that. Despite having a very stable job, there is no way that I could experience as much as the world has to offer any other way. There is also something to be said for the ancient codes of hospitality shared worldwide, which this community clearly demonstrates.

Interests

• politics
• coding
• history
• political science
• public policy
• science fiction
• french
• fantasy
• iceland
• horology

Music, Movies, and Books

Books (top 10): The Lord of the Rings (Tolkien), Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Adams), The Foundation Trilogy (Asimov), As I Lay Dying (Faulkner), A Crucible of Souls (Hogan), The Bartimaeus Trilogy (Stroud), Dune (Herbert), The Art of Power (Meacham), The Inheritance Cycle (Paolini), The Amber Chronicles (Zelazny)

Music: Eclectic mix of soft rock, instrumentals, hard rock, hip hop.

Ex.: 3 Doors Down, Kendrick, Marina and the Diamonds, Logic, MGMT, Metallica, Rush, Bliss n eso, Haydn No.49: 3. Finale Piano Sonata in E flat...consecutively.

Movies: Not a super movie buff, but some of my favorites are The Day After Tomorrow, Cast Away, Lord of the Rings, anything by Edgar Wright, Inglorious Basterds, andTinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Former professional computer gamer/tester

Teach, Learn, Share

* Languages (Coding and spoken): Any SQL-based language, common analytical software (SPSS, STATA), some C++, intermediate French, fluent English - happy to help with all of the above!
* Interesting stories from my past travels, working within the U.S. political system, etc.
* Anything you are curious about regarding Boston, where I've lived most of my life (whether the universities, its history, insider tips about what to visit), or Chicago, where I went to university.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Happy to share my proficiency in the aforementioned mentioned coding/spoken languages!

Also, I am happy to bring with me something from my area (Boston), or if international, something difficult/expensive to get in your area from the U.S. I am also happy to share some drinks/local beers from Boston!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, England, France, Jamaica, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States