CURRENT MISSION

Gathering material for book writing...heck, life writing.

ABOUT ME

I honestly believe this collection of quotations describes me well:

"From the stories I expected the world to be sad. And it was. And I expected it to be wonderful. It was. I just didn't expect it to be so big." I met people who are "the only ones for me...the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!" I learned a little bit about achievement. That "to be is to do" and "to do is to be" but also to remember to "“do be do be do". I believe that "the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players" but that our words are not just quotes of others (after all, "nothing is hopeless, we must hope for everything"). But, most of all, I've been excited to take up the challenge of a life that has been saying "stop trying to hit me and just hit me".

PHILOSOPHY

"Always produce" will discover your life's work the way water, with the aid of gravity, finds the hole in your roof." This is a quote from my favourite essay by entrepreneur Paul Graham and it describes what I am trying to do with this part of my life...DO things instead of just reading about them.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm pretty flexible but the thing I would like most out of couchsurfing is the anti-tourist experience. What are the people in the places I am visiting really like? What does it mean to "meet" a person and how can I make that as awesome as possible?

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'd heard of Couchsurfing before starting my trip but didn't actually sign up until I met an avid fan of it on a train to London. Since then, I've dipped my toe in the ocean by surfing in Paris and New Delhi. Looking forward to more positive experiences!

Interests

In no particular order:
1. Reading - The original inspiration for travelling. If you have a good bookshelf, we'll talk. If you don't, we'll talk. ;)
2. Writing - I'm working on a number of short stories,a blog of travel essays, and a novel. Ask me about it! :)
3. Engineering and Good Design - elegance is everywhere. Plus I can program if you've always wanted to learn.
4. Entrepreneurship - I want to be a creator and am interested in the immediacy of entrepreneurship
5. Psychoanalysis - It's fun to know people and why they do what they do. Makes for better writing too!

• culture
• writing
• books
• literature
• design
• dining
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• engineering
• entrepreneurship

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: The Matrix (all of them and I'd love to tell you why)

Music: I listen to what my friends tell me to and fall in love with that

Books: I cannot pick a favourite book. It is like asking me which chicken I'd like for dinner (ALL OF THE CHICKENS?! jk jk). Currently reading, "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac, which is kitschily appropriate for my journey

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've spent most of my life in Canada but I've lived in China for a whole year as a child and went to school there. Quite the culture shock.

So far on this trip, hiking in Corsica and getting stuck on the mountain with no camping supplies and little food or water, having to stay overnight and then getting helicoptered out the next day has been the most striking.

Teach, Learn, Share

Things I can teach, in no particular order:
1. Reading and Writing (in English)The peculiar emotional way that I appreciate literature, more practically, how to write a decent essay ( I can't promise good, but I've helped many a friend with their personal statements and applications)
2. Basic computer programming or web design
3. How to make poutine
4. Chinese (Mandarin)

Things I'd like to learn:
1. What makes you love where you live
2. Anything you'd be willing to teach

Things I'd like to share:
1. Adventures
2. A pint
3. Stories

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, India, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, France