I'm a writer and educator with a focus on working with students with autism and other special needs. I'm currently working on developing narrative film projects related to social change, including how we view people with special needs. A book project is underway with a focus on sharing stories about my mother and her 13 siblings.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I tend to be the new guy everywhere I go and I draw a lot of inspiration from stepping into new worlds. As my social circle is constantly changing, I enjoy the time spent getting acquainted with new people and learning how they see the world.

Interests

I am fascinated by family stories, especially the ones that never get told. I can spend hours finding facts online and I even look up locations so I have a visual sense of where a story took place. Google Maps has been extremely helpful.

• culture
• writing
• photography
• acting
• tv
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a fan of family stories in independent film and watched a couple films recently I would recommend. One is from Dan Fogelman, the creator of the TV series THIS IS US. His feature LIFE ITSELF is a reminder we are all part of a larger family story which must be saved and told. I also recommend the indie feature SADIE, the story of a teenage girl who struggles with the absence of her father who is overseas at war and tries to interfere with her mother's plans to move on from the marriage.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I saved the life of a cousin who fell into a river when we were kids. I remember feeling bad that we had to cut the fishing trip short after that. I didn't explain to my dad what happened and he didn't tell his father either. It wasn't until his mother found out that night that the story was revealed.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm in the midst of a family history book project that will tell the story of my mother and her 13 siblings. My inspiration came from recognizing the rarity of seeing 14 siblings survive past the age of 55. Here are a few discoveries I have made so far.

1. Getting answers to things you didn't know starts with asking questions you weren't even thinking.
2. Research is a painstakingly slow process but it can be expedited by finding great online resources. The New York state newspapers archived online are providing me with a great deal of information.
3. Choose an angle before starting research but be open to making changes. My intention when I started this project was focusing on the rare situation of 14 siblings surviving past age 55. The year after I began my research, an uncle died. The following year, a second uncle died. It altered my vision for the story and impacted my perspective dramatically. I have had to work past those unexpected changes to find the story I truly want to tell now.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share stories about American language and culture, teach grammar and writing skills, teach acting and public presentation techniques, and much more. I can share stories from my travels around America, too. These encounters have provided much colorful material and I have been using them to create short film scripts, too.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada