CURRENT MISSION

To see the other side of the fence.

ABOUT ME

I'm a shy person who loves people. Though I tend to avoid large groups, I live for smaller conversations of one or two. Since there is not enough time in life to know enough people deeply, this interest often takes the form of the reading of books. So, heaven is easily accessible to me via my local library. I truly love literature, of all kinds, but these days especially contemporary world literature, and even more especially literature that helps me understand people better--that is, writing that introduces me to characters who can accompany me on life's journey. I'm also devoted to languages, but mostly dead ones. I'm passionate about Ancient Greek and mild-to-hot about Latin. I grew up with a screaming Spanish mother, and I've currently taken on German as my modern language mate. My resume says that I know French and Italian, this not true. Coffee is my co-pilot and inspiration, and particularly good espresso makes me happy every single freakin time. Other fail-safe happiness-mechanisms include baseball, modern art, chicken souvlaki, plays, honest political discussion, good movies, especially really really stupid ones, Glenn Gould, and dachshunds--especially the grumpy old men look-alike ones that waddle around.

PHILOSOPHY

To see the world from as many minds as possible.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm new to couch surfing. I hope to both give and receive warmth and couch space. Also, to drink coffee with people and converse.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None.

Interests

Ancient Greek, Latin, German, world literature, dogs, coffee, ethnic food, irony, baseball, people who are into something.

• dogs
• arts
• writing
• books
• literature
• modern art
• dining
• coffee
• drinking
• movies
• reading
• surfing
• baseball
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Don Quijote, Virginia Woolf The Waves, Plato's Phaedo, Vergil's Eclogues, Homer, Cormac McCarthy, Sir Robert Browne; Glenn Gould Bach, Rachmaninov, Yo La Tengo, Archers of Loaf; No Country for Old Men, Trading Places, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, anything by Wes Anderson.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I quit my (quite lucrative, in hindsight) consulting job to learn ancient Greek and read Plato in the original.

Teach, Learn, Share

Knowledge of literature and philosophy, especially of the ancient world. Why art and philosophy matter.

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Greece, Japan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Panama, Spain, United States