CURRENT MISSION

be good

ABOUT ME

I have been working as a professional musician for the past 5 years, playing original and Eastern European Folk music. In part as an exploration of my family's heritage and my own travels, I find that music is a way to bring people together regardless of their language and culture. In particular, I am attracted to Balkan music as the platform and piano accordion as the tool to help make this happen.

PHILOSOPHY

As humans, we do not have the physical benefits that many other species can boast (we are relatively slow, soft, and fragile compared to our neighbors). What sets us apart is the ability to learn and evolve to gain new ways of understanding ourselves and the world. Abandoning fear of the unknown and extending compassion to other living things is a challenge I strive to meet in my time on the earth.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

As a newcomer to CS, I have only couch surfed while on tour in the US. But whenever I am home in Maine I hope to meet fellow travelers as a host.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

While on tour in Johnson City, TN, I stayed with a very nice and generous host who had not had a guest in months. The same night a Belorussian motorcycling couch surfer asked for a place to stay. We stayed up late into the night talking, and the day after we all went our different ways. It was a great experience to make a real connection with interesting people I would otherwise never get the chance to meet.

Interests

My passion now is playing music, but I do not have a one-track mind. I love to be outdoors, to be in inspiring places in nature, and unique social environments in cities. I love to rock climb and cook (although the two do not always compliment each other :). I am an open-minded person who believes in tolerance and respect for all people, regardless of their background. I enjoy studying languages, reading and good conversation, and of course - to travel.

• culture
• cooking
• reading
• traveling
• origami
• music
• folk music
• piano
• outdoor activities
• rock climbing
• track and field
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Folk music South of the Ukraine and West of Bhutan, especially Eastern European and Balkan Folk music - Klezmer, Lautari, Bulgarian, Serb, and Romanian 'folklore'. Before all of this stuff I had it bad for the music of my childhood, the Beatles, the Meters, and yes, Weird Al Yankovic.

Movies and books? My tastes change a lot. Some longstanding favorite authors - Roald Dahl, Ian McCewan, Salman Rushdie, Haruki Murakami. As a rule, I like two kinds of movies, artsy and zombie.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have been fortunate enough to live several years out of the US, where I grew up. 1 year in Norway, 1 year in Central Europe and Northern Spain, and 2 years in Berlin, Germany. My most rewarding experiences have come from climbing or playing music in interesting places, and always involve sharing those times with the people I am with.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to play accordion or rock climb, depending on the kind of equipment I have on me :). I can teach you how to make a great Origami water bomb and non-origami sauerkraut.

Countries I’ve Visited

Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Norway, United States