CURRENT MISSION

Exploring, always

ABOUT ME

I'm a wanderer, of sorts, but have settled into a life in New York for a while now.

Right now, I'm a PhD student studying energy and planning in urban and urbanizing areas. I'm an engineer, which for me means I absorb the world around me, try to make some sense of it and bring something back out that I feel improves it, even if in some small way. Traveling for me is expanding my world and meeting new people and finding how you do this in your own way. We all do it a bit differently, but all that matters is that we do it with passion.

I used to design building facades. Before that, I designed and tested clean energy systems for rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. I'm sure all of these experiences will come together in a master plan that I don't yet understand.

I'm originally from Vermont, where someone said we live among the hills. This is true, but we also live among our neighbors...and are willing to call anyone our neighbor. I try to carry this with me wherever I go and love getting lost in conversation with lifelong friends or people sitting at the next bar stool or across the table at a coffee shop. I like reflecting on how great my life is because of the great friends I have made, amazing experiences I have had, and stories and laughs I've shared. (I also admit I sometimes have to remind myself to pause to do this.)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have surfed and hosted and will continue to do both whenever I can. How can I not?

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Amazing - not sure how to explain how great I think it is. Surfing is a great way to experience new places and lives, and hosting opens up new worlds through the stories of guests, shared experiences and the chance to explore my own home in new ways. It's the best.

Interests

Conversation (if we meet I will probably want to talk and talk and talk), hiking (urban, mountain, anywhere), cooking, music, longboarding, dancing, biking, drinks with friends, starry nights, warm sun on cold days, cool breezes on hot days, architecture, good food, exchanging smiles, laughing, reading, and travel.

• architecture
• design
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• coffee
• walking
• drinking
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• surfing
• skiing
• engineering
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to music all day. My musical tastes are often all over the place, and I love exploring. I usually come back to music alive with sound and stories. Also anything you can move to. And anything fun live.

I like books that get across the joy of the experiences they relate. Dark can be good too, but not mopey. A list is difficult...I just reread West With the Night, definitely one of my favorites and usually a solid recommendation to CSers.

Can't say I can pick a favorite movie. I've heard that it's not what the movie is about, but how it's about it. That sticks with me. I don't watch as many movies as I used to, but I love the feel and realistically flawed characters of good film noir, can be a sucker for sentimental and surprise myself with occasional sci fi favorites. Recently found that a friend of mine and I both have Five Easy Pieces, LA Confidential and Children of Men on our short list of favorites - that seems to cover a range.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Most recently, night skiing through the woods with a headlamp for light.

Teach, Learn, Share

Longboarding. I started longboarding a couple years ago - it's an amazing way to explore a neighborhood and beyond. My world has gotten much bigger in many ways. I also love helping people get started even if just on my block. And don't worry, everyone thinks they are going to fall, but everyone is also better than they think they are going to be! (Also, we all fall.)
Walking around a city, I will probably talk a lot about architecture, but also how buildings are built and how I think they work. The architecture admirer, facade designer and engineer in me are sometimes at odds, but hopefully you can learn some things from each of them.
Cooking. I'm always up for sharing my kitchen with a surfer and looking to learn new things.
I just like learning about different people's lives, so I doubt I'll ask you for a lesson in anything. But, I'm open to learn whatever you're open to teach.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belize, Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Guatemala, Kenya, Netherlands, Spain, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

•