CURRENT MISSION

Enjoy my renewable energy profession while still escaping into the world for several weeks a year. Looking to keep exploring, meeting inspirational people, and living!

ABOUT ME

I am 34 years old. I am an American who has extensive experience traveling and living abroad. I believe traveling is probably one of the best ways for people to educate themselves on the world and help find their own self. I studied business and economics at universities in Finland and Chile, but I have an intense interest in environmental issues and renewable energy. I am also an avid hiker and am quite addicted to discovering beautiful places all over the world.

PHILOSOPHY

Live life to its fullest. Not to become too comfortable and always test yourself and push personal boundaries for personal growth. Practice good karma in all things. Be positive and positive things will happen to you. Relax!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have traveled and couchsurfed with great people in Denmark, Vermont, and Alaska, and hosted alot of great people to a unique experience in rural Ecuador when I was living there. Currently I am back in US and am looking to connect with other worldly CSers.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I last hosted CSers when I was living in Ecuador for a couple years. I lived in very rural Ecuador. I lived in a beautiful two story cabin some friends and myself built. I had a beautiful view of some coastal mountains and lived on an organic farm. No one in the village or nearby spoke English besides me, so knowledge of Spanish was useful. I also didnt have internet access nor cell service where i lived. Those that surfed with me had an awesome authentic experience in Ecuadorian countryside...

Interests

Snowboarding, disc golf, hiking, kayaking, biking, reading, renewable energy, dancing, music, playing the guitar, languages, cultures, camping, history, economics, urban planning, organic agriculture...chillin'

• arts
• dancing
• education
• running
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• surfing
• snowboarding
• golf
• agriculture
• business
• economics
• teaching
• freelancing
• history
• languages
• volunteering
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Reggae, bluegrass, classic rock, jam bands, instrumental, dance/house, blues, jazz, latin, ...etc.

Books: I read a lot, though mostly historical, factual, or current events/educational books rather than fiction. Not always though. I always appreciate recommendations.

Movies: I do not watch too many movies, though when I do I tend to like foreign/independent films and documentaries.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I love hiking and traveling. I have hiked in the Arctic Circle in Finland and Norway, and stood on top of a mountain on the most southern tip of South America. I have hiked in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Canada, and various places in the USA. There appears to be an endless list of places on my To See list.

After losing my 'real' desk job in October 2008, I packed up my car with all of my belongings within one week and I drove west from Michigan with no particular destination. Two weeks later I had an evening job working the front desk at a hotel in Vail, Colorado, and ended up snowboarding 105 days from November to April. Moral: Losing my job was the best thing that ever happened to me!

More recently, I worked two years in rural Ecuador as a Peace Corps volunteer. It was a transformational time in my life. I taught environmental education, helped run a small community bank, and promoted organic farming practices among the locals. I also did my best to get out and surf every once in awhile and improve my salsa skills!

Even more recently I was in Nicaragua for four months doing freelance work for a Biointensive Agriculture training center, www.bionica.org, designing trainings and researching the supply of heirloom vegetable seeds across the country.

Sometimes life just takes an idea, flexibility, and the courage to take a chance.

Teach, Learn, Share

Organic agriculture, Spanish, surfing, exploring, dancing, the art of traveling...

What I Can Share with Hosts

guide to local mountains and friendly chatter

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Puerto Rico, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Chile, Ecuador, Finland, Nicaragua, United States

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