Hey Friend!

My name is Sean. I'm an LA native currently on a yearlong backpacking trip around the world. I guess the point of this profile is for you to get to know me a little bit, so here are some things about me:

- Before I started traveling I was teaching philosophy at UCLA (where I graduated in 2016). I'm a huge fan of any type of philosophical conversation you might be interested in having, but I mainly read/study political philosophy/philosophy of science/ethics. Also super down to not talk philosophy at all if that's not your jam. Totally up to you.

- I've spent many summers working at a summer camp out in Malibu, CA. I'm great with kids (if you've got any) and tend to be a pretty silly person as a whole. Life's more fun when you don't take yourself seriously!

- I'm allergic to dogs/cats and lactose free. Huge bummer. It's mostly manageable, but if you haven't got a space that's animal free (outdoors is totally fine) we should probably go our separate ways.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm couch surfing for two main reasons:

1. My entire reason for traveling is to develop an appreciation for local culture. I'm very fortunate in that I've grown up in LA, which is a very multi-cultural and rich city with tons to offer. One of the biggest lessons I've learned growing up here is that touristy activities are often not the way that locals usually spend their time. I want to see a city through the eyes of someone who lives there because it is their perspective that I care about. I think it's the only way for me to help learn and grow myself, and I think staying with someone local and learning from them is an enriching experience for both parties.

2. Travel is expensive, but I'm not looking for free accommodation out of necessity. That said, I'd be lying if I said that the whole "free place" aspect wasn't a consideration here.

Interests

• cooking
• music
• guitar
• piano
• hiking
• philosphy
• hitchiking
• hikings

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:

- I play A LOT of music. I've been playing piano for about 18 years and guitar for almost 6. I'm not great at playing specific songs (though I'm happy to try), but I'm big on jamming so if you or anyone you know is trying to play I'm up for it! I bought a guitar in Turkey and am currently making my way through Europe playing as much music as I can in the cities I visit!

- I listen to A LOT of music. Some of my favorite bands are Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. Very into rock and roll, particularly stuff from the 60's/70's. Super down with most indie/alt rock music from the 90's to now. I dabble a bit in the world of EDM but it's not really my thing most of the time. Tell me what your favorite band/genre/scene is!

Movies:

I'm a big fan of movies, and both my current roommates write for TV shows/movies so we tend to watch a lot of them. My favorite movies are the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and some of my favorite film directors are:
- Wes Anderson (definitely my favorite)
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- David Fincher
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Richard Linklater

Books:

Due to my background in philosophy, I've read a ton of philosophy books. They're not always my favorite, but I can definitely recommend some reading for you if you've got an idea you want to explore. Some books/book series' that I really like:
- Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
- The Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony
- Ender's Game/Ender's Shadow series by Orson Scott Card
- The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan
- Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

I'm currently reading Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond and The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A friend of mine got married in China and I traveled with him to be a groomsmen in a traditional Chinese wedding, a day that involved:

- Leading a parade down a busy street in downtown Hangzhou
- Eating oreos filled with wasabi
- Bribing the bride's relatives with money
- Doing pushups in a full traditional silk robe
- Karaoke singing 'Africa' by Toto

Easily one of the most awesome and strange days of my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn anything and everything I can, so I'd be interested in any subject you're passionate about and want to share with me.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm a teacher by trade, and am happy to tell you a bit about my subject of expertise (philosophy). As I mentioned above, this conversation can last for as little or as long as you want it to, but we can go as deep as you want.

I've also taught piano and guitar professionally before, and am happy to give you lessons/record with you if you've got the equipment.

I also cook fairly well. Depending on the availability of ingredients I'm happy to share some recipes or just cook a nice meal.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Laos, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States