I went to West Point undergrad and flew helicopters in West Germany. After the Army, I got my MBA at Wharton (#1).

I have had lots of interesting jobs doing finance in all kinds of businesses. In my last job I was CFO of EvoShield, which was sold to Wilson Sporting Goods last November. Since then, I have mostly been living and traveling abroad in Peru and Eastern Europe. In August, my 23 year old daughter traveled in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, and Poland with me for almost 4 weeks! - what a blessing! 10 days in Israel in October. Slush conference in Helsinki in December.

Had coworking space in Vilnius Tech Park. Now back in Athens, GA.

I raised three fine children, mostly in Peachtree City, Georgia, USA (near Atlanta). I have five little grandbabies, the oldest is 5; the youngest is due in March 2018. My home in the states is currently Athens, GA, a music mecca and home to the B52s, R.E.M. , and Widespread Panic.

I like to travel (>40 countries) and like to meet new people and experience new cultures.

I am very low maintenance and easy to get along with . . .

You can find more about me on linkedin or facebook.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-allen-4375a71/
https://www.facebook.com/russ.allen.96

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Last summer I worked at Sironija (an ecofarm in Lithuania) to renew my spirit after a divorce, and over 30 years of working in an office. It worked! I lived very simply and worked hard, lost weight, got tan, prayed a lot, and rekindled my creative spirit. (Note: I do not believe in divorce. I was always faithful. I try to live by Christian principles. Love God, Love Others).

Music, Movies, and Books

Music >>>
I am from the South. I like it all.

We gave birth to: Blues;Jazz;, Country, Zydeco, Rock n Roll, Rockabilly, Alternative Rock, Southern Rock, Soul, Bluegrass, Honky Tonk, Beach Shag, Spiritual, and whatever.

I play the bass guitar and harmonica and love to sing karaoke.

Karaoke >>>
Snow - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
Midnight Special - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Somebody to Love - Jefferson Starship
I am Too Sexy - RIght Said Fred
You're My Mate - Right Said Fred
The One I Love - R.E.M.
Hair - The Cowsills
American Woman - The Guess Who
Man Behind Blue Eyes - The Who
Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
We Are Young - Fun
Sex and Candy - Marcy Playground
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Smooth - Santana & Matchbox 20
Young Turks - Rod Stewart
Beast of Burden - Rolling Stones
Yesterday - The Beatles
Hand in My Pocket - Alanis Morrisette
The House of The Rising Sun - The Animals
Planet Claire - The B-52s
Walk on the Wide Side - Lou Reed
Lonely Days - BeeGees
To Love Somebody - BeeGees
Soul Sacrifice - Santana (I am the world's first person to do a karaoke song with no lyrics - in front of 80 people at a fundraiser for street dogs at a hostel in Peru).

Books
My favorite books are coffee table picture books, facebook, magazines (Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, National Geographic).

Movies
#1 The Sound of Music
#2 Forrest Gump
#3 The Wizard of Oz
#4 Laurence of Arabia
#5 Mary Poppins

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have ridden camels in the Sahara, marched on Red Square, visited Rastafarians in Jamaica, played in Jazz and Rock bands, worked on Wall Street, trekked the Icelandic outback, fought my way out of a bar in Istanbul, piloted helicopters over German castles, hunted dove in Argentina, driven tanks, repelled cliffs, witnessed bullfights in Spain, swam Alcatraz, became a Jungle Expert in Panama, sailed on the Ijssel Meer in Holland, cycled on my college team, found Jesus, and argued with taxi drivers everywhere!

Teach, Learn, Share

Personal Philosophy >>>
All the Laws and All the Prophets Rest Upon these Two Things:
1. Love God
2. Love Others

Things I Have Learned >>>
1. Life is the Art of Drawing Without an Eraser
2. If You Share Happiness, It Grows
3. It You Share Pain, It Decreases
4. Being Positive and Hopeful and Faithful and Optimistic are all choices.
5. It is Nice to Spend Time WIth Positive People
6. It is a Blessing to Give Positivity to the Downtrodden.
7. If you turn the rock, you will see the same thing from different angles with different facets. Keep turning it until you capture the light and find the beauty in it.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My Smile
Harmonica Lessons
Juggling Lessons
No Knead Bread Recipe
Caramel and Toffee Making
Homemade Hummus
Meat-free Beef
Rich Life Experiences
Knowledge Ranging From Engineering and High Finance to Fishing and Gardening
Arts and Crafts
Help with Computers
Language Practice
Animal Care
Help in the House
General Maintenance
Groceries
Wine
Cooking
Gardening
Clean Up

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, England, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Germany, Lithuania, Peru, United States