Hey, I'm Robbie! I'm a musician, writer and office drone. I divide my time between playing in bands, seeing shows here in Austin, reading, keeping fit, and getting outside since it's sunny and warm here all the time. I believe in always learning new things so in addition to playing drums, which I have done for 17 years, I'm picking up the guitar and learning about singing.

I've been learning Brazilian Portuguese since going to Brazil recently but I've had to switch gears for the continent. I'm getting pretty interested in linguistics and I think it's finally time to be a polyglot. Seven thousand languages and you know one? Ridiculous.

I'm a freelance magazine writer too, by the way, and carry all the stereotypes associated with this set of skills: appreciative of art, terrible at math, etc. I don't understand how anyone could find fonts interesting.

I have an 8-5 job, which is new for my lifestyle, so I'm trying to reap the good side benefits by traveling when I can.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is great! I'm becoming more interested in internationalism and in learning languages to vastly deepen my experience of places. Meeting people is a big part of traveling, especially since I do it alone sometimes, and couchsurfing is a great opportunity to do that.

I got inactive with CS for a while after moving but not with hosting visitors; they've just been touring bands instead of peripatetic internet friends.

Interests

• literature
• fitness
• music
• drums
• history
• outdoors
• museums

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm always reading at least one book at all times and will crack one open at all free moments. My favorite is literary fiction by the likes of Fitzgerald, Michael Chabon, George Saunders, Rachel Kushner, John Dos Passos, Denis Johnson, Jennifer Egan, etc. I also like non-fiction leaning toward journalism and history. I like to know the history of a place when I visit and go to historical sites.

I love "indie rock" like Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, Big Thief, Land of Talk, Titus Andronicus, Japandroids, et. al. I listen to a lot of different things though.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm not exceptional so I haven't done anything amazing - how about something neat?

I recently went to Rio de Janeiro to play in a music festival of activist street bands with musicians who play in carneval every year. They know a thing or two about protest. And also partying in the road.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can teach you to play the drums! I've deliberately worked to become an outgoing person so I would love to chat with you and learn new things. My own areas of expertise are music and western literature and history. Do you need a book recommendation?

Non-Americans: as a political science baccalaureate, journalist, reader of newspapers and sensible voter, I can explain to you WTF is with Trump and America's whole deal in general.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Canada, Italy, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States