CURRENT MISSION

Enjoying Lisbon

ABOUT ME

I am 25 years old and have accepted a PhD position in Lisbon, Portugal, that should last 4 years. I study neuroscience because I am fascinated by how the brain works. Someday I hope to become knowledgeable enough to do research that will help people suffering from psychiatric disorders.

I don't have everything in my life figured out yet. It was a hard decision to come here and when I am not certain it was destiny I am afraid of it. I used to live in Berlin. You should go there, it is really a cultural and artistic heavyweight, and the people there know they are living in a dirty paradise.

I am from the USA. I don't dislike it there, but I like living in Europe. I am trying to undo the vaguely conservative strong individual mindset that area of the country has imparted on me by learning new, liberal European lifestyles.

PHILOSOPHY

Occasionally I spend concentrated effort trying to shape a philosophy of my own. So far I've established my belief in the nonspiritual physical universe and the properties of physics and chemistry that make everything work. I believe in evolution and the biological and energetic motivations of life.

I believe that human consciousness is most precious to the individual, and I think it is a happy accident that we're all thankful to have. But as I am a bit too biological at the moment, I haven't yet made the connection of the individual organism to more humanistic ideas about civilization and human dignity.

Well, I'm pretty methodical and I just haven't gotten there yet.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I like to offer my home to travelers so they can save money and not worry about where to sleep. Sometimes, I really like to get to know them, but other times, I'm just happy to help out and enable your journey.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Have hosted several people in Berlin.

Interests

Running marathons -- I like running, and picking this yearly goal gives focus to the hobby. I also like lifting weights and am trying to discover ways to live healthier without becoming health-obsessed or giving up my almost daily Ritter-sport.

Clarinet -- I really love my clarinet. I played for 8 years before a hiatus in college. Now I'm looking to have music back into my life. I wonder what opportunities there are in Berlin for free-time clarinetists? Please tell me if you know any.

Reading -- I'm still hammering away at German literature. I guess it will be a lifetime process. I wasn't particularly well-read as a boy and teenager. I didn't realize that when I was older I wanted to be well-read instead of well-versed in episodes of Home Improvement.

Writing -- I really like writing in my journal and writing letters back home, describing what is going on. I like thinking about how authors arrange words and use language to accomplish what they do.

Going out -- I like to go out, but my goal is to party less in 2010. What does that say about me?

Studying -- Well, it's my serious endeavor to become the best neuroscientist I can, so I like to study as well.

Learning Portuguese -- meeting a special someone can dramatically change your language ambitions.

• writing
• literature
• performing arts
• running
• partying
• reading
• music
• hiking
• canoeing
• skiing
• sports
• chemistry
• neuroscience
• physics

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I saw Barbra Streisand perform in Vienna through the iron gates of Schloss Schönbrunn.

Hiking in New Mexico
White water rafting in West Virginia
Canoeing in Canada
Skiing in Colorado and the Alps

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how the brain works, but not how mine works.