CURRENT MISSION

Devour Beauty

ABOUT ME

Regular kid from east coast suburbs. Always had a provincial view on life until spending several months travelling acorss Europe. Since then, I have opened my mind and my heart to others - went from an introvert to a interested person trying to have an active social conscience. I have a ravenous hunger for life, I want to swallow it all whole and poop out inspiration and gratitude. I thrive on diverse, challenging, and crazy experiences - in the process I try to learn from others and have them learn from me. My time is usually dedicated to working the typical 8-6 commuting to Jersey, drinking craft brews with friends, losing terribly in some sort of soccer related video game, and heading into Philly to enjoy music, beer, and various other local attractions. I have been strapped for money for as long as I can remember, and have been extremely resourceful in finding the best ways to travel on a budget but still get the fullest experinece. I have a passion for art, albeit a lack of talent for it, as well as nature. I have only recently started to step out of the woods and into the city, to discover all that various cultures have to offer. Until recently, I was afraid of any place where trees were not the tallest things around. I hike often and love to take pictures. I am recently engaged and things are starting to change as I try to make a long-term life for myself and beautiful soon-to-be wife.

I am friendly, sociable, and trustworthy, as most others I have communicated with on this website seem to be. I have little reservations about staying on someone else's couch, and I am willing to put my trust in others to do a little couchsurfing.

PHILOSOPHY

The 3 Rs explain it all: Respect, Recognize, and Represent - applies to yourself and others. Also, Live and learn I guess. I have lots to live for and lots to learn - and I'm open and willing to do so. By constantly trying to better myself, remain humble, and keep things in perspective, I hope to become a better man.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have safely and reluctantly returned from a 3 month solo cross-country roadtrip. Between camping and couchsurfing, I did not pay for one single night, and had the experience of a lifetime. However, surfing across the states is easy - no language barrier, a car to call home on lonely nights, easy internet access. Now it is time for a real challenge...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have watched a hurricane from the porch of a Georgia home with a glass of wine, woke up to a cat sitting on my head in Pittsburgh, bolted down a sand dune on the coast of lake Michigan, had my tarot cards read by a vagrant traveler in Chicago, watched a Shakespeare festival go on through driving rain in St. Louis, slept in the bed of a pickup truck in Ashville NC, had a drive-through daiquiri in New Orleans, buried my contraband in Seattle before crossing the Canadian border, passed days on the sickbed in an attic in Bogota Colombia - all while staying with couchsurfers and all thanks to their guidance and eccentricities. It was undeniably wonderful.

Interests

I love my senses and try to find ways to stimulate them - from colorful art to a genuine hug to a drunken stumbling reverie. I enjoy finding local customs, hangouts, foods, and giving them a try. When I travel, I am on a tour of sorts, so I tend to do touristy stuff - museums, parks, landmarks and so on. I am torn between a desire to experience life in the heart of the city while simultaneously drawn to the outdoors, where I plan to spend most of my time. I like to have conversation - from the mundane to meaningful, and find this the best way to gain insight into other's experiences. I enjoy outdoor sports but usually can't afford them, so I tend to hike more than anything, because its always free.

• animals
• cats
• arts
• beauty
• festivals
• wine
• beer
• drinking
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• sports
• soccer
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Classics like Zeppelin, Jazz: Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock. Rock: Mars Volta, Muse, Modest Mouse, Citizen Cope, Rx Bandits, list goes on and on...Hip-Hop: The Roots, Jurassic 5, Lupe Fiasco, Wu Tang. Just getting into a bunch of "Indie Rock" bands and always looking for more.

Movies: Shawshank Redemption is my favorite, otherwise I don't watch many but love classics like the Goonies.

Books: Usually novels meant for teenagers, they are easy and fun reads. Just started reading poetry - can only really handle simple and raw stuff like Bukowski. Really feeling Arthur Rimbauld - I enjoy the love of nature. Classic novels I ignored in school, Japanese modern novels (especially Murakami), and lately, environmental remediation techniques and policy.

I need to get into a good conversation before putting a firm answer on this one.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

3:00 Am, northern Arizona desert not far from the Grand Canyon, 2nd day on a lone 20 mile hike. Laying on my back in my screen tent, studying the stars. Instantly brought back to earth by the incredibly eerie, far too close for comfort, yelping, howling, and otherwise skirmishing of a pack of coyotes. Sat freightened and stiff, bolt upright and reaching slowly for the zippper of my tent for no reason at all. Open it to see some 6 wild animals sounding like a full orchestra about 50 feet from me. They were fighting and kicking up a fine desert dust that permeated my tent and landed on my sleeping bag. They continued their antics for a bit and did not notice my presence, and they scurried off somehwere not long after, leaving me exhausted, confused, and smiling.

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn how other people find meaning in their lives, and what motivates them to choose their lifestyle. I have a job cleaning up contaminated industrial sites, preparing them for redevelopment. It is satisfying but the technical paperwork and government jargon start to decay your brain like a slow toxin. Consequently, I turn to other aspects of my life for meaning, especially family, friends, and quick escapes like drugs and alcohol. I also like to learn about people's families - I think once you know the roots you know the tree.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I consider myself a nice person. I believe in mutual respect. I have settled down in recent years and haven't explored the world like I had planned, but I offer a refreshing energy and excitement. I want to meet you, to talk with you, to experience what you and the place you live in have to offer.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Slovakia, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States