Learning. Busting out of my comfort zone and diving into the new, so that I may learn not only more about the world, but also more about myself and where I fit into this world.

Warm, extroverted, and always eager to make new friends and connections; passionate and full of purpose and ideas. A big linguist! I love talking to you in your language when possible. If you want to practice your English, I'm your guy! Si tu veux pratiquer ton français avec moi, je suis là, allons-y!

Love to sing and dance, and cook. I strive to be kind, culturally sensitive and open, and always try to foster mutual respect.

PHILOSOPHY

As much as possible, live positively, in balance, and in the truth. And do your best to listen, because that's the quickest and easiest way to learn pretty much anything.

I have a blog where I write all about such stuff: http://positivejuice.wordpress.com

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Who wouldn't want to be connected to an awesome web of people all over the world who are dedicated to establishing links and hospitality between people at a time when border controls are getting tighter and tighter? If this world is going to be improved upon, it's going to be by people like us, in great part.

Interests

I like people! I guess that's why I love languages. I like to do things both mentally and physically intense - anything from bicycling to chess to swimming to talking about history and current events, to reading or watching something meaningful. I LOVE TO LEARN! For me, this is one of life's most beautiful journeys - the learning.

I also love intimacy. Of all sorts - not just the obvious kind :-) I love things that break down walls between people. I love it when I run into people from somewhere I've been, or know something about, and I am able to talk to them about it and watch them open up and share themselves with me.

• singing
• dancing
• cooking
• running
• clubbing
• flying
• chess
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• hiking
• scuba diving
• swimming
• history
• languages
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I love The Color Purple, for movies.
For music, Stevie Wonder is my greatest inspiration.
For books, Long Walk To Freedom by Rolihlahla "Nelson" Mandela is my all-time favorite.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Going to Haïti was awesome. It wasn't always easy, that's for sure - but that trip is the one I best remember. Everything from dancing in a club in Cap-Haïtien and getting all these folks dancing around me (they knew I was a foreigner, of course) to hiking up the mountain in Milot to the Citadelle Laferrière (a hike thought to be too hard for tourists, which was hot and sweaty but fun! And cool at the top, with drop-to-your-death views below) to swimming in beautiful Bassin Bleu near Jacmel (where Haitian boys clustered along the trail saying "w ap vole" [you're gonna fly] and then getting there and realizing what they meant, because the jump off the rock outcrop is 10 m high! [and there are no stairs or safety precautions!]) to getting sudden diarrhea with no toilet in sight and having a Haitian guy I was with run over to watch me shit behind a tree and laugh about it (I ended up laughing with him) ... this was a trip that taught me a lot.

Also ... Hiking up the hills behind Barcelona and finding a wild cactus plant, then picking off some fruit and eating it (first time in my life I ever ate cactus fruit). I tried to avoid the needles, but I ended up getting stuck quite a bit in my fingers and lips and tongue. The cactus didn't even taste that good! But you know what? It was worth it, because I'm smiling really big remembering that day as I type this here. :-)

Ahorita estuve en Medellín con una amiga y la gente celebraba la victoria del equipo "Nacional" que había ganado, y los fanáticos nos asaltaron pero con espuma (en latas) y harina! Todo el mundo quedó ensuciado pero chévere, fue una farra inesperada pero que experiencia :-)

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn how to live anywhere and make a living - or, what place is right for me to settle down in for a while. But first I must travel, a lot! Feel free to share your lessons with me, I am quite open to hearing them!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Conversation! In English, español, français, portugês, italiano, 中文, kreyòl ayisyen ... and I also love to sing! If you let me use your kitchen, I can probably cook you a good meal as well for your trouble :-) I cook for myself and others at home and have been getting a lot better at it lately.

I can tell you about my experiences, and what traveling and living in the USA is like, also.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Haiti, Israel, Italy, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French part), Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Spain, United States, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, United States