CURRENT MISSION

I'm just doing my part to help out the global economy. Spending money outside of one's own country is altruistic--tantamount to volunteer work if you ask me. . .well, not serious volunteer work, but it's kinda close.

ABOUT ME

I graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara over a year ago and have begun a year-long trip through Southeast Asia and perhaps beyond. I love having fun and spend my life in constant pursuit of fun. I guess there must be some point in the future where I will have to get serious, but I hope that I remain young at heart forever. I love live music, hiking, travelling, living, loving and exchanging.

PHILOSOPHY

I have so many personal philosophies that they may be conflicting. "Judge not lest ye be judged" is one of my favorites, although it is a hard philosophy to live by when you are on your toes in other countries judgement is a must. Charlie Munger says, "Never wrestle with a pig because you'll both get muddy and he'll enjoy it". Finally, Graham Nash says "You're seeking to get there, for even before, its no matter, no distance its the ride". True quote. Karma is the truest philosophy I've found. Doing right by others always seems to work out for everyone.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Most recently, I've been couchsurfing (or something like it) with the Buddhist monks of Thailand. Sleeping on floors or mats in the monastaries has been an incredible experience, although the conversation hasn't been easy. Maybe one of the monks'll write me a rec.

I try to make couchsurfing a priority during every trip. While traveling in Bolivia, I took a boat from Lake Titicaca to Isla Del Sol, where I scoured the island all day for someone who might take me in for the night. In the end, I did find a place to eat dinner, but not to sleep, and alas, it hailed on me while I rested. I do, however, make an attempt in every country I visit to stay with the locals. As it turns out, Casey Fenton didn't invent couchsurfing, he only perfected it.

Interests

Sometimes I take out my sunscreen once I've gotten to the top of a mountain and wipe my face down. Then I sit down with my friends and begin to read Rohl Dahl books aloud. After a few minutes I realize that I'd rather be listening to the Raffi concert or watching Free Willy.

• books
• concerts
• working out
• boating
• traveling
• volunteer work
• music
• live music
• hiking
• wrestling
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Steinbeck, Tom Robbins, Usual Suspects, Anything literature regarding the country(ies) where I currently am or will in the future be travelling. I would consider myself much more passionate about music and books than movies. I guess movies have never really done it for me, although on a rainy day, I crave a good movie.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have seen some amazing things in my life. I have done the Hakka with Maori's in New Zealand, I have chewed Cocaine leaves with Bolivians. I have walked the Malecon in Cuba, I have hiked Machu Picchu, I have knelt before the Wailing Wall, prayed at Umayyed Mosque in Damascus, and prayed with at the Mar Musa desert monastery. I have watched the Sydney Harbor fireworks show. I have hiked half dome in Yosemite, driven down the Baja Peninsula, walked around ground zero in New York and enjoyed the sand of Key West.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have no special knowledge that is worth imparting. I do, however, think that many of you have knowledge that would be worth absorbing. I therefore look forward to meeting all of you and learning a great deal.