CURRENT MISSION

Explore, develop new friendships and affect real change.

ABOUT ME

Nick: I am from Seattle, WA in the United States, and I am 6'10". I went to Claremont Mckenna College in Los Angeles for a year and then I did service as a volunteer for my church for two years in Kansas and Missouri. Then I transferred to Brigham Young University in Utah where I graduated in economics. I've worked as a Spanish instructor, an international development researcher, statistical consultant, and am currently a data scientist at Uber in Amsterdam. I love music; I play the guitar and piano. I also like trying new things; I've really gotten into ceramics and dabbled in glass blowing, and I hope to be able to do more soon.

Alison: I grew up in Chicago and am the second of six children. I have always loved reading and writing and making up stories so I studied English in college and loved it but something was still missing and it wasn't until I should have already graduated that I discovered photography in a very roundabout manner and now I'm pursuing that passion although I am really glad that I have a background in English and I still read anything I can get my hands on. Besides photography I love to cook, design, paint , hike, laugh, try new things and understand people. I am a very curious person and I ask lots of questions because I genuinely want to know as much as possible. My not-so-secret dream is to one day have a store/cafe called the Audacious Curiousity Shoppe. My photography website is alisonleighjonesphotography.virb.com.

We have two children: Maewynn is 4 and Millie is 2.

PHILOSOPHY

Each person that you meet has something important to teach you, if you are willing and humble enough to learn. You have to make a deliberate effort to not get swept up in things, so that you can focus on what is most important to you. I want my personal philosophy to be "live in the moment", but sometimes I struggle with that. I'll let you know when that gets better.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We love meeting new people through CS and forming relationships that last. We like talking with people through CS conversations, and attending CS activities and are looking forward to doing so even more in the future.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Even before we heard about Couchsurfing we were the kind of people who believed in getting to know others and being willing to meet or "host" them in our home when we could and doing the reverse when we were in new places. This has let us form friendships that we might otherwise have missed out on.

Interests

Nick: Photography, Reading, Politics, International Development, Ceramics, Computer Programming, Languages, Eating

Alison: Photography, Hiking, Cooking, Baking, Women and Children's Rights, Cultures, Blogging

• writing
• poetry
• design
• graphic design
• photography
• cooking
• baking
• yoga
• running
• instructor
• modeling
• meditation
• politics
• reading
• pottery
• blogging
• painting
• music
• guitar
• piano
• hiking
• canoeing
• basketball
• rock climbing
• communications
• economics
• languages
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Nick: Movies: The Mothman Prophecies
Music: Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Eagles especially Desperado and Mana
Books: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Alison: Movies: Pride and Prejudice (with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle), Ever After, Batman Begins
Music: Ingrid Michaelson, Adele, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin
Books: Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Book Thief by Mark Zusak

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Nick: I was canoeing in the wilderness up in British Columbia in Canada, and all of a sudden a lighting storm came up out of nowhere. Lighting seemed to be hitting the water, so I paddled harder to get away, while hugging the shorline. Then, a huge moose started charging towards me from the shore. It was a big reminder about how powerful and breathtaking nature really is.

Alison: Built houses in Mexico for my Thanksgiving Break one year. It was the best Thanksgiving I've ever had even with the fried sardines that masqueraded as Doritos.

Teach, Learn, Share

Nick: Teach: Computer Programming (Statistical Modeling, basic HTML , CSS, PHP, Python, R), How to shoot a basketball, Ceramics (coil, pinch pots and wheelwork if a wheel is available),
Learn: Arabic, Chinese,
Share: What matters in life.

Alison: Teach: Photography (DSLR, mostly Canon and basic film), Creative Writing (Fiction, Short Story, Poetry), Watercolor Painting, Oil Painting Fundamentals, Yoga Fundamentals, Self Defense Basics, Graphic Design, Social Media Networking(blogging, twitter etc), Instant Photography(polaroid), Rock Climbing Basics, Gluten-free baking and cooking, Finding peace
Learn: Meditation, Advanced Painting, Medium Format Photography, Cooking any traditional dishes
Share: Photography, Writing, Running, Spirituality, Solving World Problems

What I Can Share with Hosts

We can teach you how to code, how to cook _delicious_ vegan food, and how to take awesome pictures.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, United States