CURRENT MISSION

Fill my days with life, not my life with days...

ABOUT ME

Hey, I'm Ryan. I'm 29 from St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. I absolutely love traveling, and prefer to do so only through backpacking, staying in hostels and of course, couchsurfing. Resorts aren't really my thing. I also prefer to travel off the beaten track, which is getting harder all the time it seems. I wish to see a lot more of the world in my lifetime. My main goal as far as traveling goes is to see Macchu Picchu, so I hope I make it there some day. I travel with an open mind, and I'm easy to get along with. I don't mind getting lost and being out of my element (it makes for better stories) I'm a vegetarian, and I'm very passionate about the environment so I try my best to travel eco-friendly. I love culture so wherever I am, I'm willing to learn about the people and the places. My wife and I are planning a trip In early September 2014, in which we will be starting in The Netherlands, going to Belgium, stopping off in Berlin before heading to Poland (where my wife was born). I really want to show my wife the great experience of couchsurfing, so hopefully we can get hosted at least a couple of times in the first three countries.

PHILOSOPHY

Do not travel to escape life. Travel so that life does not escape you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I basically spread the word and tell everyone what good experiences I've had, especially when they ask me the question "but...isn't it dangerous?" I always give good references, because honestly- whose couch am I going to surf that I don't like?

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've couchsurfed in Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Everyone has been great and I demand that they make their way to Canada so I can host them!!

Interests

traveling, experiencing new things, being out of my comfort zone, getting lost in places and time, meeting new people, learning all there is to learn, music (playing guitar alone and in my band, writing songs), photography, history (mostly Greek, Roman, Medieval, Egpytian, Renaissance, WWI and WWII), geography, vegetarianism, the environment, culture and languages, reading, writing, cooking, documentaries, archaeology, anthropology, and just having a good time with friends and people I meet.

• culture
• writing
• photography
• documentaries
• environment
• cooking
• vegetarian
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• backpacking
• track and field
• anthropology
• geography
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Into the Wild, Lord of the Rings (all of them), Star Wars (all of them), Gladiator, The Beach, Boondock Saints, Into The Wild, Cecil B. Demented, I Heart Huckabees, Equilibrium, Little Miss Sunshine, Garden State, Clockwork Orange, Donnie Darko, Labyrinth, Black Book, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Requiem for a Dream, Cube, I Am Sam, ok, there are too many to mention but I love all the historical epics and movies like that, but I also like documentaries and indie films as well.

Music: Iron and Wine, The Shins, Alexisonfire, City and Colour, Sufjan Stevens, Death From Above,The Tragically Hip, Rush, Death Cab for Cutie, Postal Service, Johnny Cash, Placebo, Tom Petty, David Bowie, The Decemberists, Billy Talent, Oasis, and that covers just a little bit. I like mainly the acoustic/indie/folk stuff, but I also like classical, celtic, african, latin, and many kinds of ethnic music as well.

Books: Basically any travel book/magazine, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, Lord of the Rings, War of the Worlds, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, Stupid White Men, 1984, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I'll read any book about classical or medieval history.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I traveled through Europe twice, met so many great people and came back both times with a whole new love for and outlook on life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've met so many amazing people who have nothing but generosity pouring from their hearts. I learn a lot about each place I stay in and the customs and cultures of the people living there, and I like to educate my hosts about where I'm from as well!! I don't just meet the people I stay with, but sometimes their friends and other couchsurfers. Sometimes more people than I would meet in a hostel. I spread the word about couchsurfing and I've convinced a few people to sign up, but I make sure they want to do it for reasons other than saving money and having a place to sleep. We can all gain a great amount from couchsurfing, and we get to share our world.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada

• 

•