CURRENT MISSION

Living through a year in London without an umbrella

ABOUT ME

My name is Riad.

I grew up in the United States, born to a Polish mother and a Lebanese father. This mix of cultures within my family has given me an appreciation and curiosity of the world since a young age.

So I decided to hit the road on my own, and it was the best thing I could have ever done. Meeting wonderful friends, having unforgettable experiences, and seeing really interesting places. This is how life should be.

When I travel, I try to avoid tourist traps (except for free museums), and find the real secrets of wherever I am.

I feel like I've seen a city when I know what the locals do in their spare time.

I put myself in situations that I am not always comfortable with, but that I know will provide an excellent experience to think about later.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm happy to be alive
I like to treat everyday as a new adventure

i enjoy thinking about thinking

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I surf couches
people surf my couches
and I tell people about it
it's a good time

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I started couchsurfing during my hitchhiking trek across Canada from Alaska to Quebec in 2008, and had a wonderful time doing so!

in 09 I couchsurfed in Poland, England, and Ireland

2011, Peru and Chile
2012, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil

Interests

reading, politics, culture and society, languages, russian literature, riding bikes, critical thinking, marxist and anarchist political theory, good films, learning instruments,

• culture
• literature
• cooking
• politics
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• languages
• hitchhiking
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

BorgesMario BenedettiChopinRussian folkHand drums Flamenco guitarsBossa NovaDostoevskyMarxSteinbeckOrwellRousseauCamusLa Teta Asustada Igmar BergmanLe MoustacheTarkovskyTake ShelterI like documentaries too

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I got lost in a desert in Lebanon

I saw the mountains of British Columbia turn into the prarie of Sascachewan in a day

I watched the sun never go down in Alaska and the Yukon Territory

Cycled around the Ring of Kerry in County Kerry Ireland

Slept in a hammock on a cargo ship in the Amazon rainforest

Was a night watchman in an auto parts dump in northern Argentina

Teach, Learn, Share

I can ramble on about Politics and Philosophy if you'd like....but...I know when to shut upDrums and DrummingSome basic road bike maintenanceI think I'm a pretty good cook, you tell mePlease teach me how to play the music of wherever I am

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, United Kingdom, United States

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