I grew up in the American South dreaming big about seeing and knowing the world. I took the first opportunities I could to escape the South and then the USA. I traveled a lot the last few years, learning a lot about the world -- but also a lot about what I love at home. Now I find myself in Nepal with my partner, trying to get a grip on this wonderful country.

I live and work as a cartographer / designer / data guy. I primarily practice my trade for humanitarian and international development agencies. I've been to a lot of places for my jobs, not all of them very glamorous, which wore me out on personal travel for a while. I'm rediscovering the itch and from time to time may travel afield from Nepal.

I have an idealistic heart and a pragmatic head. I like most people, especially when they start telling the stories about their life, their day, their significant other, their whatever that they think are boring or mundane. In an average day my foremost hope is for happy moments with friends and if I'm lucky a sense of wonder at the world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing seems like one of the purest communities still out there on the web. Pure in the sense of being built on the joy of sharing and enriching the lives of others. I'm attracted to that and ideally want to give as much as I get.

I did Couchsurfing when I was younger as a way to meet people when I was traveling, but I was never able to host myself due to really limited accommodations. I'm better situated now and hope to be able to host others or at least show them around.

Interests

Hiking, climbing, biking, and yoga. Running, but not very well. Cooking, occasionally very well. Economics, history, political science, science, physics, big ideas about the universe, small ideas about the universe, sci-fi movies, and plenty of much less lofty pursuits.

• design
• cooking
• recipes
• yoga
• running
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• cycling
• hiking
• rock climbing
• cartography
• economics
• history
• physics
• political science
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Roberto Bolaño

Plenty of crappy television dirty pleasures

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked around the rim of an extinct volcano crater lake in Ecuador and spoke Quichua with locals

What I Can Share with Hosts

Lots of tips and stories about places around the world. Great Mexican salsa recipes. A friend + place to stay when they come to Nepal.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ecuador, Mexico, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom, United States