CURRENT MISSION

Save up some money by working at my first-ever 9-to-5!

ABOUT ME

I save up all my income so I can travel and learn languages. I have a special soft spot for stateless nations and independence movements (Kurdistan, Palestine, Abkhazia, etc). Right now, I'm working for an anti-bribery/anti-corruption firm. Specifically, we perform due diligence on international third-parties to help ensure compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

PHILOSOPHY

There's a difference between living and being alive. What's the point of earning a six-figure salary if you spend all your time working?

The day you stop learning and improving yourself is the day you might as well be dead. Education is lifelong and doesn't stop when you're handed that pretty piece of paper with your name on it.

This is your life, so eat whatever you want. What's the point of living to be 98 if all you get to eat is skim milk and carrots?

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Right now, I enjoy hanging out with other local Chicagoland Couchsurfers and meet up with travelers when they pass through town.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My favorite (informal) Couchsurfing experience was when I hitchhiked from Turkey into Kurdistan during Ramadan, surfing for two nights with a group of deaf guys in Hewlêr/Erbil, one night with a family of Syrian refugees in Akre, and four nights with friends of a friend of a Kurdish border-control officer in Amedi.

This wonderful adventure was completely spontaneous -- none of my accommodation was pre-arranged. It just fell into place!

Interests

Cooking, reading, languages, biking, barefooting, martial arts, creating, thinking, communicating, sharing, and laughing at myself.

• singing
• cooking
• recipes
• coffee
• reading
• traveling
• camping
• boxing
• languages
• hitchhiking
• volunteering
• eating
• exploring
• muay thai

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Ender's Game, Discworld, The Time Machine, Into the Wild, On the Road, Where the West Ends, American Gods.

Music: Postmodern Jukebox, Tegan & Sara, Cantonese hip-hop, French pop music, American folk music, and so much more.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once climbed to the top of Central Plaza in Hong Kong (one of the tallest buildings in the world) all because a maintenance worker accidentally left a door unlocked.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach English and French, self-defense, basic cooking, simple-living, and spontaneity.

I'd like to learn just about everything: a few words in your native language, basic car/bike maintenance, wilderness survival, personal finance, dancing, your favorite recipes, and anything else you're able to teach!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can treat them to some meals, help with chores around the house, and explore their city with them.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Gambia, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Macao, Mexico, South Korea

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, France, Hong Kong, Senegal, Turkey, United States

•