My name is Andrew and I'm originally from Ossining, NY where I lived until I was 17 before moving to Montevideo Uruguay in 2008 where I have family. In Uruguay I did most of my university schooling where I took up International Relations in the public school of Law where I'm in my last semester. I really like traveling and have been fortunate enough to be able to do so in Western Europe and South America. For almost three years I managed a student residence in a 7 bedroom house where I did all the cleaning, maintenance, administration and helped the students with whatever they needed.

At the moment I live with with two friends and their two children, also in a smaller but still pretty big house which requires a lot of the same skills I developed at the residence. When I'm not at home I'm at work, where I make a living cooking for a small restaurant in the Old City near the Port of Montevideo and if I'm not at work I'm probably at said friends' coffeeshop where I usually bring a beer to drink after closing and chat with friends/customers.

I try to be athletic, although I've had to give up running and skateboarding because of a knee injury but I love swimming and cycling as often as I can and try to do some kind of cardio every day. I also really dig yoga, meditation and cold weather activities. Music is a big thing for me, I love going to see local bands, big acts, friends do any kind of creative endeavor from expositions, some improntu gig at a dive bar, gatherings with friends at the coffeeshop, I'm game for mostly anything.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on couchsurfing because I've met really nice people through this network and think the idea is very practical. I think people learn from each other when they want to. People who get together and participate in this sort of traveling community understand what it's like want to meet people, how helpful it is to have somewhere to stay, and I think are generally interested in reciprocating in some kind way whether helping out with the dishes or hosting one day.

I think when I have my own space I might host because travel is something special we can all benefit from in our own development as people by understanding how to share space, be more open to each other and broadening our perspectives.

Interests

• arts
• culture
• writing
• theater
• acting
• dining
• cooking
• partying
• drinking
• politics
• movies
• reading
• music
• live music
• cycling
• international relations
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

I love all sorts of music for different reasons, I like knowing about the artists, songs and context they come up in. I listen to music in different languages for pleasure and practice. I love reggae, motown, (alternative or not); rock, hiphop, or anything fringy, interesting and weird. I also like to listen to a lot of local music from here in Uruguay.

Any movie that that the united states isn't under attack, that isn't overly slapstick, and that conveys some kind of pensive, suspenseful, and or funny message. That list got pretty short pretty quick.

I'm not a avid reader but I do make an effort to read up on anything I'm interested in; politics, history, philosophy. I enjoy reading investigative independent journalism; Brecha (Uruguay), Democracy Now (U.S), international press like Courrier International (FR). I also like authors like Christopher Hitchens and Vladamir Nabakov for their prosy style.

My favorite thinkers are Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Eduardo Galeano, Sup Galeano (Subcomandante Marcos) amongst others.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Once my friends were playing a show in Buenos Aires and pulled me on to the stage and I rapped/freestyled in front of like a hundred or so people and it was awesome.

Another time I went with my grandparents to a birthday party and ending up drinking several whiskies with the then president of Uruguay, Pepe Mujica.

Teach, Learn, Share

When people come to Uruguay I like to show them the different bars, neighborhoods, and just do fun things like ride bikes along the boardwalk, take them to places to get a nice view of the city, introduce them to my friends etc. One of the best things to do in the capital is go to Barrio Sur and Palermo and watch Candombe which is basically when the neighborhood organizes a sort of drumming parade where they close of the streets, make a big fire to tune the drums and slowly march down the street while they all play in unison. Everyone just comes out of their house or watches from their balconies while the community follows along usually drinking mate, having a beer, maybe some weed (legal in Uruguay) and dances to the music.

What I Can Share with Hosts

What I can share with people is my culture, a pleasant conversation, and experiences. I love to cook and talk about cooking, learn about cooking, cleaning up etc. I'm always very grateful for when people let me crash at their house and I try to help however I can. I think I have a knack for just doing some things without having to ask what needs to be done, it's some kind of intuition I try practice.

I love to hear stories and about experiences whether funny, dramatic or profound in nature. I have a few of my own and I think that's one of the best ways to learn about a new area or country; talking to the people. In my travels and everyday life I like to do the same, talk to and just watch people, I really enjoy all kinds of art where if anything one learns to appreciate and notice the unnoticeable.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States, Uruguay