A brief note to new couchsurfers: if you think you may be unaware of the etiquette of making a Couchsurfing request, please take a look at the list of recommendations I have listed in the "My Home" section under "Additional Information." I hope it helps! :)

Now, I suppose we discuss me.

I love meeting people. Having the chance to lose myself in deep conversation with new friends is the reason I travel. I'm up for anything, and I can have as much fun entertaining myself as tagging along with a group. I'm easygoing and get along with almost anyone. I cherish the friendships I make across the world, and I will go far out of my way to see people I care about again. I am an aspiring writer, and I dabble in fiction and songwriting as hobbies.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I grew up moving regularly across the United States. By the time I was nineteen, and after attending ten different schools, I thought I had a wide understanding of the world based on my experiences travelling the US. Then I went to Japan, and my mind broke. Everything I took for granted--language, gestures, etiquette, pop culture, etc.--was turned on its head. I loved it. The moment I returned home, I began planning my next foray out of the country. Now with France, Canada, England, Australia, and Indonesia also under my belt, I find the urge to travel just keeps getting stronger.

Interests

I love to learn about the people I meet and understand the world through their eyes. I like to write, so I enjoy discovering what makes the characters I meet stand out from the background.

I love outdoor activities: hiking, backpacking, and camping. I will walk until my soles are worn out for a breathtaking scene, and I am up to do just about anything, even if it scares me. I also enjoy playing sports casually.

Finally, I cherish culture. In-depth conversation is my favorite pastime. I can spend hours discussing slang, social etiquette, and learning new sayings.

• writing
• photography
• reading
• hiking
• backpacking
• soccer
• climbing

Music, Movies, and Books

My music interests are a strange amalgam of folk music and hip hop for the most part. I love Belle and Sebastian as much as The Jurassic 5, for instance. I also love classical music, like Erik Satie's Gnossienes. I have many friends who make house music, which I am getting more into now.

I enjoy most movies by Hayao Miyazaki, Wes Anderson, and Richard Linklater. Jean Luc Godard's "A Bout du Souffle" is my favorite film, and Spike Jonze's "Where the Wild Things Are" ranks pretty highly as well. For the most part, I prefer movies that have subtle adult themes but are accessible to children. Then again, if the gore, language, etc. is done artistically, I don't mind (e.g. Kinji Fukasaku's "Battle Royale" was a masterpiece).

Concerning what I like to read, it all comes down to style. I will spend an hour reading a refrigerator manual if the writer has a lively voice and a mordant sense of humor. Well-written children's books are probably my favorite genre. When I was growing up, I always appreciated authors who did not sound condescending but were able to be silly. The best examples I can think of are Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," A. A. Milne's "Whinnie the Pooh," Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," and anything by Roald Dahl. I also enjoy postmodern, dark humor works, like Samuel Beckett's "Molloy" and "Malone Dies." Since adulthood, my favorite discoveries have been the works of Sylvia Plath, Kurt Vonnegut, Salman Rushdie, and Christopher Hitchens (whose work may not be fiction but is as lyrical as any I have read).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I wouldn't call it amazing, but I once climbed a 110 foot radio tower in Japan by myself on a new moon night to see what the nearby city looked like.

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn about your interests, your history, your favorite activities in the place where you are. I want to do the things you enjoy with you.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I know how to make a few decent meals: if cooking spaghetti and shepherd's pie were martial arts, I would be a black belt. I always clean up everything after myself, and I'm happy to help out around the house. I make a great companion for social outings if a plus-one is needed; I can be tactful and urbane, but I'm not above chugging a bottle of champagne in the bathroom with you.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Myanmar, Netherlands, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, United States