CURRENT MISSION

Making new friends across every inch of the globe—be a positive ambassador for the USA

ABOUT ME

The most important things to me in life are connecting with other people, and finding new and meaningful experiences. I think travel and the exchange of ideas and information is the most important way that we can make the world a more peaceful, prosperous place.

I am wholly dedicated to the idea of learning something everyday. I'm obsessed with creating carving out a small amount of time every day to practice something that I want to get better at. Right now, I'm learning to play cavaquinho (think ukelele or small guitar) and pandeiro, (think tambourine) and practicing my portuguese.

Travel has helped me realize that I don't really care much about material possessions. I can be completely happy living out of a backpack with only a few days worth of clothing, a good book, music, and my laptop for work.

I tend to be highly organized with my own belongings, and avoid disorder and messes in my personal living space. At the same time, I don't have any difficulty getting along with people who are at the opposite end of the spectrum. As long as I can keep my own stuff in order, your messy house won't stress me out.

I used to play a few sports including basketball, soccer/futbol, american football, and track and field. Now, I try to stay healthy and active. I'm always interested in an informal pickup game, and love learning new sports and games. Recently I've been lucky enough to learn a bit about cricket from some South African travelers, and have joined quite a few informal games of futebol and volebol in Rio de Janeiro. When I don't have a ball to chase, I try to get out and run a few km or lift some weights.

I tend to get along with all types of people. If you treat other people with respect and dignity, I want to get to know you.

PHILOSOPHY

I want to make the world a better place, starting with the elimination of poverty and prejudice. Honesty and compassion are the traits I most admire in others. I believe that a person can accomplish anything they set their mind to accomplish. We can do it even faster and better if we work together.

Perché sono iscritto su Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

So far, I have just been able to participate in a few meet-ups and provide advice and ideas to couch surfers planning trips to places I know well. In the near future I hope to have several surfing experiences (on my current trip in Brasil). When I return home, I'll have my own place for the first time since finishing university, so I'm looking forward to the chance to be a host in my home town near Detroit, MI

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Unfortunately, I have limited experience with Couch Surfing so far. I have met a few couch surfers in person and attended some meetings and CS events. So far, that experience has been inspiring.

I have wanted for several years to participate more fully in the CS community. Soon, I will have my own place in Michigan, and I'll be able to host for the first time since joining CS.

I have tried multiple times to surf, and have not yet been successful at finding someone who could host me. As with anything in life, I know the secret to success with finding a host is persistence.

Despite not being able to directly participate in Hosting or Surfing through the CS website, I both hosted and surfed informally with friends more times than I can count. In fact, I am working on this profile right now from the couch of an incredibly cool Carioca in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

I am so grateful to have made so many awesome friends from around the world. I truly feel that even without CS, I have a place to stay in more places than I could ever visit.

I can't wait to be a greater part of the awesome idea/community that is Couch Surfing.

Interessi

Entrepreneurship, music, learning language, photography, writing, travel, hiking, backpacking, camping, snowboarding, all sports.

• writing
• books
• design
• photography
• running
• clothing
• movies
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• surfing
• snowboarding
• sports
• basketball
• cricket
• american football
• soccer
• track and field
• business
• entrepreneurship

Musica, film e libri

Music is a huge passion, and one of the most important ways that I learn new languages. At any given moment, i'll probably be focused on music in a particular target language as well as a few artists that are unrelated to my learning goals.

Movies are not a big part of my life. I tend to watch what is recommended to me by friends. For the most part, I watch films with the goal of education rather than entertainment, so I tend to watch a lot of documentaries or movies in foreign languages.
Right now i'm focused on French and Portuguese, so please please please send me some recommendations if you have any favorite movies in these languages.

I love books, but I don't read as much as I'd like to read. Books are a critical part of how I get information and learn new skills, but I haven't really carved out enough time lately for fiction.

Una cosa incredibile che ho fatto

The Galapagos Islands
Torres del Paine National Park
Started a Company
Learned Spanish in Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina
Learned Portuguese with Brazilian Movies and Music

Insegna, impara, condividi

Business and Entrepreneurship:
I have started a business to achieve freedom of time and location. My company provides web design, online marketing, and other business consulting.

I love talking with other hustlers and entrepreneurs, especially those who seek freedom of location. I've only been in the game a few years, and I am equally interested in learning and teaching.

Travel Hacking:

Travel hacking is about getting really cheap international flights. Unfortunately, most of the techniques and strategies I use are only available to people who are part of the US credit system (i.e. can open a bank account or apply for a credit card in the United States)

I use frequent flyer points earned through credit card bonuses to book nearly free international flights. This year I took 2 round trips from Detroit to Rio de Janeiro (3 of 4 trips in business class) for less than $200 USD. If you are interested in learning about this, get in touch.

Paesi che ho visitato

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia

Paesi in cui ho vissuto

Brazil, Chile, United States