I have traveled to 44 countries (and counting) and hoping to travel to as many as I can before I die. I have found that life is a journey of learning. Traveling and meeting locals has been the best school I have attended.

I am easygoing with a lot of intellectual curiosity and find almost everything in this world interesting. I have found that everyone, regardless of background, culture, religious, socio-economic background, has a story that I can learn from.

I want to live a healthy life and be in the best shape possible as I age. I grew up playing team sports, dancing ballroom, and running long distance marathons. Now I am focused on my yoga and meditation practice, which allows me to connect my mind and body and grow as a person.

I currently work in airport public-private partnerships, which allows me to travel the world and make an impact in the development of communities. This job also allows me to marry my many and diverse interests such as international development, economics, business, architecture/design/planning, and public policy.

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

Through my many journeys, I have found that the experience of traveling to another country is greatly enhanced when one stays with a local. I am relatively new to CS, but not a stranger of backpacking and traveling under different conditions (from backpacking, sleeping in the dessert to luxury places). I have grown bored of staying in hotel rooms, which have little life. Since I learn through everyone I meet, I think that CS offers me that possibility to meet people in a more meaningful way and learn new perspectives and experiences.

Intereses

• architecture
• contemporary art
• photography
• yoga
• running
• hiking
• sports
• good food
• meeting new people
• international development
• film watching

Música, películas y libros

Love many movies but my top are:
-Zero Kelvin
-Woman in the Dunes
-Dancer in the Dark
-Big Lebowski
-Full Metal Jacket
-Pulp Fiction

Books:
-El Aleph by Jorge Luis Borges
-Dubliners by James Joyce
-Blindness by Jose Saramago
-The Stranger by Albert Camus
-Notes from Underground by Fyedor Dostoyevsky

Music:
I like a variety of music and quiet flexible, it all depends on mood and setting. I listen to chill/electronic music/lounge music, but also enjoy Latin rhythms, flamenco, jazz, blues, classical cello.

Algo increíble que he hecho

While I was backpacking in the Middle East, I got stuck with a few travel partners in the middle of the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan. A Bedouin gave us a ride and ended up hosting us and we slept on a dune in the dessert near the site where Lawrence of Arabia led the revolt. The Bedouin did not ask for anything in return - this was one of my first CS type experiences...

However, my biggest community impact accomplishment is having started 15 years ago, in partnership with the World Affairs Council and funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, what is today the largest high school Model UN conference in the Pacific Northwest. More than 5,000 high school students across Washington State have been positively impacted by this program.

Enseña, aprende, comparte

In the past I have taught ballroom dancing. I can also teach English and Spanish. Now learning yoga and meditation as I like to connect my mind, body and soul, and be a positive energy in this world. I like to be an example and role model for new generations to show that anything is possible if one is determined, persistent and patient. Always trying to learn, refine existing skills and acquire new skills and perspectives.

Qué puedo ofrecer a los anfitriones

To the willing listener, I love sharing my many travel stories, experiences and perspectives. Also, I have an insatiable appetite to learn, so hoping to learn from my local host and leave with a better understanding of my host's culture.

Países que he visitado

Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Puerto Rico, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Países en los que he vivido

Mexico, United Kingdom, United States