CURRENT MISSION

Making my way among the buzzing billions.

ABOUT ME

Yo dudes! From the Midwest, I grew up in a rural area in the outlying countryside of Columbus, Ohio on a small hobby farm. We had llamas! But to put it lightly, country life wasn't exactly for me and so I moved to Kent, Ohio after high school to study architecture and explore my fascination for cities and the buildings within. I even had the opportunity to live and study in Italy recently...which had a tremendous impact on my world view. A serious game changer.

After graduating from university I was unemployed for over a year and truthfully things were pretty awful. So to escape all that awfulness, I recently moved to New York in May, 2012 on a bit of a whim. The big city has since been generous and gave me the opportunity to work at this ridiculously cool architecture firm in Manhattan. It's quite easy to say that I'm in the right place at the right time.

Lately I've taken a fondness for politics and social causes and how they merge with architecture. For example, how our physical spaces are sometimes designed and used as tools to divide, segregate, and exploit people, communities, and cultures. But also how design can be inclusive and open and benefit everyone. I'm always coming across points of view that I never considered or challenge me and often I feel conflicted about my own views. I'm hoping to take them all in and eventually figure out my philosophical thesis to apply to the work that I end up doing.

I have a strong desire to be a part of the creation of a more inclusive world, which is part of what brought me to couchsurfing. I find it to be a truly incredible tool for positive change and the impact it has is really exciting. Hopefully we can meet and help make this world that much more connected!

PHILOSOPHY

Life is simple. It's about love, compassion, and togetherness. And there's really only one rule. In the words of Kate Bornstein: "You can be as freaky and as delightful as you'd like to be. There's really only one thing that you don't want to be, and that's mean."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Currently I've surfed in Europe and the US and have hosted stateside, as well as played tour guide for surfers passing through.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

1 - Surfed Copenhagen. My favorite experience will probably always be my first. While living in Italy I took a long weekend and went to Copenhagen by myself. Simply put, it was an incredible weekend.

2 - Hosted in Kent. This crazy dude named Rob was riding his bike from DC to San Fran over a summer and made a longer than expected pit stop. Super fun to show someone Kent and we still keep in touch.

3 - Surfed in New York. I was looking for an apartment for the big move and stayed with Ryan with my current roommate and our friend from school. It was a week long party with business mixed in.

4 - Hosted in New York. Rob just keeps coming around. And we're super glad for it.

5 - Hosted in New York. Sean and Lizzy from Canada! A last minute host that I'm super glad happened.

6 - Hosted in New York. Neils and Morten from Copenhagen. I seriously love the Danish.

7 - Hosted in New York. The dynamic duo of Vlatko and Stefan. Two great friends that kept us laughing.

8 - Hosted in New York. HURRICANE SANDY. Poor Andrew was hunkered down with us while we weathered the weather. A lot of tea, sleeping, and terrible local news broadcasts.

Interests

Politics, film and cinema, music, community supported agriculture, dark beers, clothing and style, socialism, philosophy, bicycles, outer space and the universe, queer theory, alternatives in general,architecture + design.

• architecture
• design
• causes
• beer
• partying
• clothing
• politics
• news
• movies
• music
• cycling
• agriculture
• business
• divinity
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Last.fm: http://bit.ly/H2nQSW

Films: I'm a sucker for surrealist dramas and dark comedies. A touching story line will very easily make me cry.

Books: Recently getting into queer theory and queer spatial theory. If you have book recommendations, send them my way! Currently reading Michael Warner and Aaron Betsky.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Divinity is all around us. All you have to do is take it in, every day.

Teach, Learn, Share

I gain so much from surfers and hosts. Any kind of cultural or intellectual exchange is generally pretty cool.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States

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