ABOUT ME

I think most people would say that I'm a passionate person, bookish, geeky/nerdy, and that I love the outdoors, if they're traveled with me. I love philosophical conversation once I get to know you. Teetotaler.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Love the idea of sharing spaces and experiences with folks of like (or unlike!) mindsets.

Interests

I'm a sucker for all things Free and Open Source. I aspire to be a maker; I love learning how things work, and thinking about ways to make them better. I love the bicycle, and not only as transportation, but as tool and a canvas. I'm a diehard Science Fiction fan, especially of the classics - Card, Herbert, Zelazny, Anthony, Asimov(!). I find that people are very interesting, too - thinking, behaviors, culture, tastes...it's such a magnificent web we weave, no?

• culture
• humanities
• drinking
• outdoor activities
• snorkeling
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - wide open here, but I like electronica, country, and neo-folk.
Movies - nothing specific comes to mind, I don't watch a ton of movies/TV
Books - sci-fi! Ender's Game has been my favorite book since 3rd grade, also really love the Bolo series started by Laumer, Harrington by Weber, and just about anything from Golden Age sci-fi writers. I've been known to dig into some nonfiction and philosophy as well, such as The China Study and A New Earth.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Staying at my grandparents' house in the Mimbres National Forest of New Mexico and sleeping on their roof, one night I...was engulfed by the stars. Indescribable, honestly, but it felt like I was falling up, coming home, that my form had suddenly blurred and become clearer than ever. Then I lost my balance and the roof kindly knocked me to my senses and I slept.

Snorkeling at Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Philippines, I swam beyond the drop-cliff and stared out into the blue abyss. I felt the more serene than ever in my life, and felt I stared much longer than I'm sure my breath lasted. Lived a lifetime in those mere seconds.

When my wife (for I knew then as well as I know now that she would be) approached me in the uppper C hall of our high school and asked me if we could be friends. Awestruck is, indeed, the word, and I barely recovered my senses in time to shakily agree before we were charged with tardiness.

Teach, Learn, Share

As an Education sector volunteer in the Philippines I was responsible for teaching English curriculum to up to 300 students in 6 classes. I enjoy teaching, but tend to start at the very beginning which can take a long time.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have some mean recipes for hummus, pancakes, eggs, and bean burritos.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Laos, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines, United States