Hi! My name is Peter. I'm originally from the United States, and I've been living in Madrid, Spain since 2005. That's more than a third of my life, so I can safely say that I am now a madrileño, for better or for worse. I haven't travelled a whole lot, but I've dedicated a significant amount of time and energy to integrating myself into the culture and language of my adopted home, and I wouldn't change this experience for all the travels in the world. You can find more details below, but in a nutshell: I am committed to learning about myself and about others, and I'd like to think that I strive to do my best to make our life in common as harmonious as possible.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've surfed couches countless times, but only a handful of times through the Couchsurfing page! I came to it initially when some of my friends tried it, both surfing and hosting, and they couldn't speak highly enough of the experience. I have amazed time and again at how easy it is to get to know a person in the context of welcoming them into your home, or being welcomed. It seems to me one of the very best travel philosophies. Most people are just like you, and it does me good to be reminded of that.

Interests

Food: Food is extremely important to me, and I have come to believe that it can be one of the best vehicles for intercultural exchange. Everyone has an opinion about food! I adore cooking, both for myself and for others. I'm vegan, and I try to eat organic/natural/local products when available and when I can access and/or afford them. I'm modest about my abilities in the kitchen, but some of my baked goods have gained an excellent reputation.

Reading and writing: Reading was probably my first passion. When I was growing up I spent incredible amounts of time at the library, where books were my window to the outside world. I still love libraries and what they represent - public access to information, something like an Internet with more dedication required. This carried over into my studies of language and literature. I'm also trying to write more these days.

Yoga and meditation: Several years ago, I was introduced to yoga. To say that it changed my life would be an understatement. It's amazing what can come from awareness of breath and movement. This lead me to other forms of meditation. I try to learn everything I can, and it's still exhilarating. Each day is a new one.

Conversation: I'm a bit shy on the surface, but once I (we) get going, an involved conversation is most definitely one of my favorite activities. I feel conversation is such a human and humanizing activity.

• culture
• writing
• books
• literature
• dining
• cooking
• vegan
• exercise
• yoga
• meditation
• reading
• traveling

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I enjoy all types of music, with the exception of heavy metal, which for some is difficult for me to listen to. Sometimes I feel my musical knowledge is limited, but exchanges with friends and acquaintances always leave everyone with something new that they want to continue looking into. Recently I've been fascinated by Big Freedia and Tibetan throat singing, to name two examples that are very far apart. Or are they?

Movies: Here are the first five that come to mind: Caesar Must Die, Persona, Koyanisqaatsi, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. This is by no means a conclusive list.

Books: I studied mostly literature at university, so being asked to pick favorites is not fair. That said, my favorite prose writers in English are James Baldwin and D.H. Lawrence. And my favorite poet in Spanish is Nicanor Parra.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was born. And I'm not the only one. Just thinking about that trips me out.

Teach, Learn, Share

Currently I teach for a living, and so I can safely assert that any sort of contrived teaching or learning situation seems rather limited. I do like the sharing part, however. I'd be more than glad to share who I am and what I think I know, and I ask only that from others. Openness and honesty. And if you are knowledgeable about sustainability and permaculture, then you'll really have my attention, since these are topics I can't speak extensively about, but recently I am eager to explore.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Like I said before, food and its preparation really get me excited. I can share vegan dishes in my repertoire, whether from Spain or elsewhere. And as I've said elsewhere, I'd like to engage in conversation about any and everything, especially if it's of importance to my host. We can challenge each other to look out and look in.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Canada, France, Ireland, Mexico, Morocco, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Spain, United States