CURRENT MISSION

What's wrong with this world? I'd like to see what's right about it.

ABOUT ME

I'm a kind, queer guy, who is getting used to saying "yes" to as many things as possible. Assertive yet flexible, I like to surround myself with people "with purpose". What does that mean? I like creative types (mostly because I lack artistic prowess), and I love people who are interested in gaining something/learning something from as many people as possible. I can knock a few beers back and have a laugh, or I can go for a hike or a bike ride around town to explore something new.

Feel free to get a better sense of me (aka stalk me) on Facebook or my Instagram (stanparky)

PHILOSOPHY

The details are beautiful, but the big picture is overwhelmingly spectacular.

I consider myself a typical sarcastic Millennial... I am at once skeptical of the paradigms that confine our lives, and accepting that I can't change the system. I was born an optimist, but I've grown into more of a realist. That doesn't equate to "pessimist", per se, but I do try to keep in mind that life is full of struggle. I'm learning to check my privilege as much as possible... as a male, as a white man, as an American.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted a few couch surfers, and recently surfed across Europe at various people's places:
COPENHAGEN-- Mads, Frederick
BERLIN-- Uwe and Rupert
HAMBURG-- Klaus
AMSTERDAM-- Mike!
UTRECHT-- Jon
PARIS-- Reynaldo

Interests

I love urban biking, even if its just a leisurely slow ride around town. I have a strong interest (and education) behind urban planning, specifically transportation. I like spending time at parks, either reading or sipping a beer, discussing the world around me through varying sorts of pseudo-intellectual banter ;-) As a gay male, I am also interested in getting in touch with other queer individuals around the globe.

• education
• beer
• reading
• cycling
• hiking
• teaching
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Jurassic Park, Magnolia, The Royal Tenenbaums, Requiem for a Dream, 2001: A Space Odyssey (I love Kubrick).

Music: Almost everything. I'm serious. Anything from jazz to classical to early punk to 80's pop to old-school country (think Hank Williams) to rockabilly to shoegaze to... you get the picture. My taste varies by mood, and I love for people to show me great artists to listen to!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Swam with a turtle in the Galápagos Islands. That was both beautiful and touching at the same time.

•