CURRENT MISSION

Acting on my principles

ABOUT ME

Born and raised in Derby, England, which is near Nottingham (think Robin Hood!). I moved north to Sheffield in 2011 to begin studying for a bachelors degree in History. Right now, I'm an exchange student at the University of Oklahoma, and I'm returning to my beloved Sheffield in May 2013, and will graduate a year later.

I have a great balance in life between relaxing and having a hilarious time with friends, and working really hard towards my goals. I dislike the middle ground - that's my philosophy.

I'm easy to get along with - and I love people who like myself don't take themselves too seriously. I'm becoming increasingly open-minded and tolerant as a result of exposing myself to experiences with both new situations and people, and I think couch-surfing is and will continue to be a great way of cultivating these virtues.

I've got a cheeky smile, and a partial beard, both of which I am very proud of.

For real though, I find it difficult to write these personal descriptions, so just chat to me and you'll get a better idea. Peace!

http://www.facebook.com/richmdawson

PHILOSOPHY

self-discipline + positivity = freedom

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Looking to surf during my exchange year in the U.S, meet some fantastic people, and to give back by hosting along with my crazy housemates in the UK the following year, which would be an absolute blast.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Couchsurfed in New York, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas and Oklahoma City in the summer of 2012.

Interests

Various forms of chilling - like most people my age I enjoy an extremely active social life. I enjoy having a few beers, and am 420 friendly. I enjoy cooking and learning about good food. I love sport; been playing soccer my whole life pretty much, and have recently began boxing. Most of my reading is around History and Politics.

These are very general and broad, off the top of my head. Just ask if you'd like to talk specifics :)

• documentaries
• acting
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• politics
• reading
• surfing
• sports
• boxing
• soccer
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

A few of my favourites:
Movies-The Departed, Into the Wild, Donnie Brasco, Old Boy, Inception.
Music-J Dilla, Mos Def, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, A Tribe Called Quest, Nujabes, The Pharcyde, Nas, Lauryn Hill, lots of UK hip-hop, The Strokes, Sublime.
last.fm/user/dawsic
Books-Really need to read more fiction, Gabriel Garcia Marquez is probably my favourite in this category, as for non-fiction, generally left-leaning historians and political thinkers (Hobsbawm, Zinn, Galeano, Chomsky, Hitchens). Also love stuff along the lines of Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Keeps me driven.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm trying to think of things that no-one else has said..
-pretty sure I saw a UFO once (been addicted to watching documentaries/reading about them ever since!)
-completely by chance I met and smoked a few joints with Mike Dean, famous old school hiphop producer, on a train from Prague to Krakow
-Getting up close and personal with Niagara Falls was a hangover cure I'll never forget!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, United States