What's good, Surfers? I just finished a year teaching abroad in Southeast Asia and backpacking through Europe. This fall, I will be pursuing my Masters in Education Policy at Harvard. (Don't worry: I promise I'm more of an Emmett than an Elle Woods!)

I am a chill, flexible guy who enjoys good conversation and partying in equal measure. I like music and film, I dabble with guitar / singing and I love both teaching and learning from people I meet in my travels!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Sounds cliche, but for real I'm a "people person", so I'm pumped about making friends around the world. Personal connections and unlikely friendships are easily the best part of traveling for me. Of course, as a grad student, it helps to travel frugally too... but I'm traveling to enrich myself and become a better person, not save money. #milennialAF

Interests

• theater
• education
• wine
• politics
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• international relations
• psychology
• film
• exploring
• spontaneity
• creative writing

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I listen to a lot of acoustic folk and indie rock. My favorite band is my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist. I love discovering new music of all types though, so I'd love to exchange playlists with my hosts. Broadway is a not-so-guilty pleasure of mine.

Movies: Boyhood, School of Rock, Dan in Real Life, Sing Street, The Way Way Back, Her, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (to name a few)

TV: Game of Thrones, Fargo, Breaking Bad, Rick and Morty, Lost, The Office, Parks and Rec, 30 Rock, Survivor, Cosmos, Planet Earth, Master of None, Bob's Burgers, Bojack Horseman, Mr. Robot... wow, I've wasted so much time lol.

Books: "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr; "The Sympathizer" by Viet Than Nguyen; "The Humans" by Stephen Karam

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Last year, top to bottom. I had never travelled outside America before moving to Malaysia. I adjusted easily and learned a lot about myself. Plus, working as a U.S. citizen in a majority-Muslim country during this crazy political era was a profound experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. The best part was becoming close friends with the members of my host community in Malaysia, especially my students. They're goobers and I miss them dearly.

Some favorite memories of my travels: visiting the Korean DMZ, bathing with elephants, spelunking, swimming in waterfalls, trekking through rainforests, petting deer in Nara, eating crickets / silkworms / pig brains / duck fetus, climbing through the temples of Angkor, meditating in a Buddhist temple in Singapore, making Khmer pottery, sailing through Halong Bay, befriending monkeys in Bali, launching a lantern at Yi Peng, learning to lindy-hop in Napoli, exploring the Venice Biennale, collecting walnuts in Kutna Hora, paying respects at Auschwitz... and so much more!

Teach, Learn, Share

If you're open with me, I'll be open with you! I'm a teacher by trade, so if there's anything you want to know that I have experience with, I'd be happy to share... guitar, baking, movies, music, theater, travel stories... you name it!

My motto:
"We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike." (Maya Angelou)

What I Can Share with Hosts

Aside from sharing knowledge and stories, I can definitely help with chores, contribute to utilities payments and the like! I am very flexible and am happy to work around the needs of my hosts.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Malaysia, United States