CURRENT MISSION

To enjoy all the obnoxious absurdities of life

ABOUT ME

My personal hygiene meets all national standards. That, I suppose, is the most immediately significant fact that you need to know.

But wait: there's more!

I'm a mid-20's graduate student living in Massachusetts. I'm a bit of an academic, and an insatiable traveler. I am always fascinated to learn about new things-- geography and history-- that are best learned about through travel. I grew up in a small town in southern Illinois, and spent some of the best years of my life among the cornfields there. Since that time, I've lived all over-- London, Moscow, New York, Denver, Sacramento, and now Northampton, MA-- and worked in a variety of fields-- ecology, firefighting, construction, academic administration, educational research, and teaching.

As a traveler, I'm very laid-back. I'm not much of a partier-- I'd rather see and do all I can in a given location than be hungover the whole time. I love to walk around new cities, and go on long hikes. I also love to eat, so trying new national cuisines is key.

I'm tidy, mature, and, if we click, you'll get to see my cynicism. But don't worry: it's the good kind of cynicism.

PHILOSOPHY

Suffering purifies.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm quite new at this, actually, though it sounds like an excellent idea. I travel a lot, though, and will probably be poking through your part of the world at some point.

I haven't had the opportunity to host yet, because not many people have been passing through Northampton, MA. Be the first! Sleep on our couch!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have couchsurfed only twice: once in Romania, and once in Portugal. Both were good experiences, and I had wonderful hosts.

Interests

Running, literature, foreign languages, astronomy, surrealism

• literature
• running
• traveling
• hiking
• astronomy
• ecology
• emergency services
• geography
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Brothers Karamazov, War and Peace, David Copperfield, Middlemarch, Great Gatsby, Moby-Dick, Cousin Bette, Crime and Punishment, Great Expectations, Dangerous Liaisions

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiking down the Black Canyon at Gunnyson (in Colorado) in the middle of the night with one eye

Also, working as a wildland firefighter in our beautiful national forests-- there's nothing quite like taking a night hike up the side of a burning mountain and putting your muscles to work all night long by the light of your meager headlamp.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you go to Russia and you are female, do not sit on cold concrete, or else you will be told that your ovaries will freeze.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States