Hello CS community!

I live outside of Denver, Colorado. I moved here in 1999 to attend graduate school, studying theology, philosophy, as well as Koine Greek and ancient Hebrew. I then stayed to live and work. I love interacting with people, but entered finance for a season and later became an IT Product/Project manager. As technical or academic as this may sound, I care deeply for people from all backgrounds. Everyone has a story to tell. What's yours? My friends would tell you that I am a good listener and welcome honest conversations about things that matter - things like family, faith, good food, laughter, music, friendship, travel, and adventure.

I love to travel and hope to do more. My last big excursion in 2013 took me to Nepal for a month, stopping in the UK and India along the way, plus a short layover in the Amsterdam. (I think I crammed a week of adventure into those 10 hours in Amsterdam!) Perhaps CS will open some doors to see more of this wonderful world in which we live.

My own home in Denver is small, neat, and quiet. I make my bed most every morning (even in a hotel)!! As a guest, I treat my host and their home as I would want my home treated, if I were the host. Hopefully then, I'll gain a friend and they'll welcome me back! :)

I speak mostly English, but I love language and am a quick study. I studied Ancient Greek and Hebrew for my master's degree. While traveling in 2013, I kept a journal of Nepali phrases that my many hosts so graciously taught me. I try to learn at least 1 word each day in my host country. I am currently working on French and German on the app Duolingo. Bonjour! Guten Tag!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I started to explore CS while researching a trip to France. I hope to retrace my grandfather's route from WWII and see a bit more of Europe. That said, I genuinely love to interact with local people and culture, learn some of the language, and visit locations not mentioned in the guidebooks. It's fun to see famous sites; it's much better to connect with people.

Interests

• literature
• photography
• wine
• coffee
• running
• classical music
• jazz
• hiking
• camping
• skiing
• rock climbing
• swimming
• history
• languages
• philosophy
• beaches
• mountains
• mountain biking
• foodie
• family
• landscape photography
• jeeps

Music, Movies, and Books

My musical tastes are pretty diverse. I frequently listen to classical and jazz on Spotify. I grew up listening to the Beatles and Motown with my parents. My playlists include everything from Bach and Van Halen to James Taylor and Ella Fitzgerald.

Some of my favorite authors include Dickens, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and various non-fiction authors on everything from psychology, contemporary culture, and personal finance.

Favorite movies... Not ashamed to admit I love Star Wars! I genuinely enjoy old movies with Carey Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Sinatra, Gene Kelly, etc. Dances with Wolves (American Western with Kevin Costner) is still one of my all-time favorites.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Here’s a few so you get a sense of my character:

1. Backpacked through the Annapurna region of Nepal.
2. Once helped a drowning victim (he and his brother both survived) eventually learn how to swim.
3. Ran my own business for about 5 years.

Teach, Learn, Share

Happy to share my knowledge of Colorado, my adopted home of Denver, and all things Rocky Mountain. I'm a decent cook, or so I've been told. Happy to discuss photography and help others with their English!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Photographs, smiles, and shared stories! Bottle of wine? Happy to pitch in with food, cleaning, etc...

Tell me what you'd like! Makes me feel more at home if I can contribute somehow.

Countries I’ve Visited

Dominican Republic, India, Nepal, Netherlands, Singapore, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States