CURRENT MISSION

Staying above ground but below the radar

ABOUT ME

I'm currently 33 years old and living on the outskirts of Akita City on the campus of Akita International University. I just started the graduate program here in English Language Teaching.

From 2003-2005 I lived in Wakayama-ken, Japan and worked in a senior high school there as an Assistant Language Teacher. Then I went back to the states and worked for a while and started grad school at the University of South Florida. I left the program early because I found out that I had received a scholarship to finish my master's in Japan.

I'm interested in learning how to cook, Japanese cuisine now, and gardening-growing my own vegetables, surfing when I have access to waves and a board, aikido when I have access to a dojo.

I like to read and I try not to be too ignorant of the world around me but I still have a little bit of apathy when it comes to politics.

I come from an extremely dysfunctional family and I am thankful that I escaped with a portion of my sanity intact. I think I have a very good grasp of how "not" to treat people. I find myself searching the world for surrogate families and I've been lucky enough to find a few to take me in.

I love blueberries and fresh baked bread. I like places that don't remind me of anything.

At times I hold onto Tom Waits' line, "The World is not my home, I'm just passing through."

At other times, I feel this world is all I have and I hold onto it with a death grip.

This is probably more information than most people would like to know but the times when I'm inclined to write are usually also the times when I am the most introspective and drinking from a half-empty glass.
But I assure you, I do have a sense of humor and I am not as dark as I might come across in black and white.

Be well,

Rhett

PHILOSOPHY

I think it more or less came across in the above sections.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I try to host people when I can and respond to all questions. If I can't host you then I'll try to give you as much local info as possible.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've only hosted a group once and I've actually never surfed on anyone's couch. But the one time I hosted was great. It's a good feeling when you realize there are still genuinely good people out there who you can trust and come to know as kindred spirits.

Interests

Reading-Fiction,Non-Fiction,Philosophy,various topics.

Doing anything on the water, surfing, swimming, diving, fishing,etc.

Practicing Aikido.

Practicing sustainable living and growing my own veggies.

Talking to strangers so they are no longer strangers.

Volunteering, helping out people in need.

• cooking
• drinking
• gardening
• politics
• reading
• fishing
• surfing
• scuba diving
• swimming
• teaching
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: The Three Burials of Melquiades Estradas, No Country for Old Men, The Big Lebowski, Burn After Reading, Chocolat, Cinema Paradiso, Shawshank Redemption, and many more.

Music: John Prine, Willie Nelso, Sun Kill Moon, Avail, Lagwagon, Fugazi, El Ten Eleven, Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You, George Winston, Hot Water Music, Band of Horses, Built to Spill, Neutral Milk Hotel, Men at Work, Tom Waits, Yo la Tengo, and many more.

Books: 100 years of solitude. The Pugilist at Rest. Sexing the Cherry. Miranda July. Phillip Roth. Hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world. On Bullshit. And many more...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've seen people trust others with their lives.

Teach, Learn, Share

"You can't be what you were, so you better start being just what you are."--Fugazi

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Indonesia, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United States