Hello,

My name is Will and I'm still new to couch surfing but have had an amazing experience so far! I spend my summers working as a wildland firefighter and go to school during the winter.

I am traveling with my partner, Hilary, to Paris in December and would love to try Couch Surfing to visit with people I can practice French with and can give recommendations about things to do and see.

I study energy economics in school and am very tempted to work in a country like France that is almost completely reliant on nuclear as well as continuing to strive towards 100% sustainable energy sources.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm getting close to graduating with my undergraduate degree and I'm looking into places to move and work after I have my degree. I've lived in the US pretty much my entire life (Minus the 2 years I got to live in Japan while stationed there with the military) and want to see what else the world has to offer! Plus France has an inspiring electrical grid with an impressive investment in nuclear generation.

I also really want to learn French and don't know many people where I live who speak fluently. Not only would French be good to know for my career, but I also don't want to be another ignorant American who only knows English and has never traveled. Haha

One of my favorite things about University is meeting all of the foreign students and talking to them about their home cultures and getting to know them and how their perspective of social and political issues difer based on how and where they were raised. One of my favorite questions to as foreigners is, "What's something you've seen or eqperienced in the US that caught you off guard and that you didn't expect before coming here"? That's what I'm looking for with CS, meeting new people with new ideas and beliefs and values to experience as much as I can while I'm here on earth.

Interests

Food/ cooking, trail running, my current work, backpacking, hiking, snowboarding, economics, national and international politics as well as meeting and talking with people who have lived much different lives than my own.

I'm studying energy economics and am always curious about how different economies work from the macro to the micro level. What ever your occupation is, I'm sure I'll be interested and want to hear all about it. It's great hearing people talk about the things they're interested in and it leads me to ask questions and learn about things I otherwise never would have thought to inquire on.

I love being out in the forest and I love my job. I take lots of pictures of the work we do in the woods and would love to share if you're interested.

• photography
• yoga
• running
• politics
• hiking
• swimming
• ecology
• economics
• whitewater kayaking
• anything outdoors

Music, Movies, and Books

I most recently read Gun, Germs, and Steel.

Recently I have been watching French movies and listening to French music to help me learn the language.

I really love all kinds of music though, from old country music to folk and bluegrass, classical, classic rock, punk, rap, EDM, and Mexican music. I like anything that makes me tap my foot! I'm always curious to hear what people listen to so I can expand the breadth of my music library.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've served in the US Marine Corps and currently work as an EMT/ Wildland Firefighter on a Hotshot crew based out of Central Washington.

Teach, Learn, Share

Outdoor Skills, American culture, I could also teach you CPR!

I'm also full of tons of random facts that I've picked up, like did you know that Octopuses have 3 hearts and 9 brains?!

What I Can Share with Hosts

A helping hand, good stories, funny jokes, and a clean/quiet stay. I would love to help around the house. I'd also be willing to get some groceries and do whatever I can to show my gratitude.

Countries I’ve Visited

England, Japan, Scotland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United States