CURRENT MISSION

I hope to explore the world one day at a time, have interesting experiences, and meet awesome people along the way.

ABOUT ME

Ben grew up in Sweden and has spent most of his life there. His love for filmmaking have taken him around the world where he encountered many interesting cultures and people. He's a big fan of DIY projects and he is currently working on building a aerial video drone and some furniture.

Shawna is a first generation Canadian born from Korean parents. She is interested in gardening and various crafts, most of which involve making practical useful items from anything from thread to clay. Shawna's goal has always been to contribute positively to society and her community and thus has become a nurse.

PHILOSOPHY

Shawna:
"You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough." I try to treat people the way I would like to be treated. I also try to do my part in this world by helping others and keeping our earth green.

Ben:
"Certainly the game is rigged. Don't let that stop you; if you don't bet, you can't win."

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Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Shawna: I went backpacking through Europe with a couple of friends but we eventually parted ways because I wanted to go to Italy, and the other two wanted to go to Greece. I used CS when I went to Naples, Rome and Barcelona and it was a super amazing experience. I met some really amazing people!! I don't think I would have had as a fulfilling experience otherwise. When I got back home to Vancouver, I knew I had to host other CS'ers as well. I was only ever able to host a handful of people as most roommates that I lived with were not as open with having other people staying in our home plus I've been pretty busy the last few years finishing up my bachelor's degree in nursing. I just wrote my licensing exam in Feb and I'm hoping to get back into the CS scene :)

Ben: I've known about CS for a long time and I've had couchsurfers stay with me but I haven't been actively involved in CS community...till now :)

Interests

Music, nature, exploring, meeting new people and having new or interesting experiences. I'm a social drinker, non-smoker but I don't mind if you do (green friendly). I like to party/dance, go to concerts and have fun. I also just like to chill with friends, go for drinks (coffee or beers), see a show, read a book, go for a hike, a swim, go camping, and the list goes on. Ultimately, I enjoy being outdoors and exploring. I like to be visually stimulated by the world around me and immerse myself in different cultures. I also love trying different foods and socializing with others.

Any other burners out there (Burning Man)?

• books
• photography
• film making
• diy
• concerts
• dancing
• dining
• beer
• coffee
• partying
• drinking
• crafts
• gardening
• socializing
• pottery
• knitting
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• swimming
• nursing

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Documentaries

Music: Hip Hop, Soul, Funk, Indie

Ben is currently reading "Bicycle Journals" - David Burne and had enjoyed reading "Paddled to the Amazon" - Don Starkell

Shawna is currently reading "The Hangman's Daughter" - Oliver Pötzsch, "Far from the Tree" - Andrew Solomon, re-reading "The little Prince" - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and is hoping to one day finish "A Dance with Dragons" - George R.R. Martin (which she started in 2011)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Check out our pics on CS (we hope to have more uploaded soon), and Ben's videos (http://vimeo.com/taft or http://taft.se) for a glimpse into our lives. Hope to meet you guys so we can share some of our adventures with you and hear about yours :)

Teach, Learn, Share

Ben: photography, film making, drone making, furniture making, how to eat free Swedish food at Ikea.

Shawna: knitting, cross stitching, screen printing, sewing, pottery, gardening, ukulele playing, how to be Canadian eh?

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada

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