CURRENT MISSION

I really just want to get out there and see new places and make friends

ABOUT ME

Hey, I'm Ben. Recently I've graduated from University and I am trying to live to my fullest now that I am no longer academically burdened. I currently work for a Google start-up so I can save up some money for future goals, and I am preparing myself to teach overseas in a year or two, while seeing if my Peace Corps application gets approved. I love nature- I grew up first in the backwoods of Maine, and I also love the ocean, grew up more on a boat in Portland. I am very open to meeting new people and love exchanging or creating new stories to hear and tell.

I am a writer and a poet, although I am not yet published because I like the idea of my work being open and free- but I might try out some magazines when I get the confidence up. I'm basically just a guy who loves to move about.

PHILOSOPHY

I feel like I'm living my life to both get the craziest experience I can out of it, see beautiful natural and neat places, and to help people on the way; do good things and all. I've done a lot of volunteering for Cambodia / Cambodian communities and soon hope to help join the peace corps. I live to live.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm not sure what participate means? I guess I participate by surfing couches. If I'm at your place I could definitely clean, nuy you a beer, prepare a meal sometime, or play Smash Bros with whomever I stay with. I like to be helpful.

Also, I love to teach. See my teach, learn, share portion for more info. I'd be happy to mentor on anything (I used to be a writing tutor, so I can help with that too!)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've done it a small handful of times; once in NYC for a night, twice in Portland, and a couple times in MA; but usually with people I knew prior.

Interests

Gaming, beer, books, tea, travel, poetry, art, Buddhism, Go, Computer stuff... Just about anything really but these ones are the first to pop into my head.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• books
• poetry
• cooking
• recipes
• beer
• gardening
• boating
• traveling
• magic
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• buddhist
• teaching
• history
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
The Grateful Dead, HUM, The Velvet Underground, Odd Future, Fungus Amungus, Bjork, Hendrix, The Modern Lovers, Acid, Daft Punk, Gorillaz, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Beatles, and then a ton of Jazz/Swing music and that song "In the Year 2525"

Books: Desolation Angels, On The Road, Howl, The Golden Eternity, Hitchhikers Guide series, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, And the Hippos Boiled in Their Tanks, Dharma Bums, Just Kids (Patti Smith), Behind the Beautiful Forever's, Invisible Man, Junji Ito horror comics.

Movies/Shows:
Howl, Breaking Bad, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Django, Pulp Fiction, Terrorvision, Utopia, Edward Scissor-hands, Akira, Sin City, Parks and Recreation, Bob's Burgers, Trailer Park Boys, Adventure Time, Flight of the Concords, Batman Beyond, Donnie Darko, Hell Boy, Aqua Teen, Kill Bill, Neon Genesis, Anything Studio Ghibli.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I lived in Cambodia for a while as a student; the only obviously foreign student at my university, where I spent my time volunteering, learning the language, and tutoring English. Met a lot of cool people and got a magic Buddhist tattoo with a bamboo rod.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach a lot a lot about South East Asian History and Culture. I know some Khmer language too. I can teach writing techniques, and a ton about mycology and cultivation. I've also been a Buddhist since I was a wee lad so I can teach Buddhist things to those who are interested. I can build/ repair computers, and a thing or two about cooking. OH, And gardening stuff!

I would love to learn more recipes, things about hiking and camping, or just about anything someone would take the time to teach me. I love learning about roughly anything that people have the experience to share.

Countries I’ve Visited

Japan, Laos, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, United States