CURRENT MISSION

♪♫♫♪♫ to love everyone ♫♪♫♫♪

ABOUT ME

Let me begin by stating plainly what knowledge I have gained from many a host and weary traveler, so that both you dear reader and I may in due time experience the best of times. And even if I should not find it in my ability to host you, if you head this advice, it is sure that you should find swift respite.

My advice is such: personalize your messages, a host cannot be bothered to go out of his way to take in a man who did not even take the trouble to write a message as to why you are requesting them in particular. Also, since you have no references and cannot be trusted by your rank among others, post many more pictures with descriptions on each and fill your profile with descriptions of yourself and your passions. Lastly, if and when someone does take you in, bear at length to ease their chores so that they may rejoice in haven taken you in. Do their dishes, walk their dogs, bring a gift, etc. And in turn, you will discover that Couch Surfing is far more than just a free place to stay, but is a life changing network of worldly cosmopolitans who stand as sentries to the gates of their homelands. They will bring to the wise traveler untold spoils of adventure and merry tidings. Now, on to tales of myself. (This section was written after a long drive whilst listening to The Odyssey as a book on tape, my writing seems to now reflect the authors)

I am looking to travel and explore the world while I am young, my body is durable, and my mind is open. I sold almost everything I owned and traveled from July 2012 to October 2013. I had a general idea of where I wanted to go, but nothing was set in stone. I made my way across much of the US, into Canada, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Antarctica, South Korea, and China. I have settled down again because I love teaching math.

I lived in Ohio my whole life, though I consider myself a born traveler. I have been all over the United States, visiting as many states and big cities as possible.
I have also been to Europe 4 times now. The last time I was there I backpacked throughout multiple countries and stayed with CSers, friends, and in one hostel.
It was fun, but I wished to travel in a less privileged style. So I started hitch hiking around the US and camping out.

I am easy going and accepting of other people. I love to make friends with everyone I meet. I don't drink or smoke, but I am not against people that do. I am a respectful, cleanly, fun and loving person. I call myself a Carl Saganist (aka an free thinking skeptic), but when it gets down to it, my spiritual and political beliefs are that of Love. So if your beliefs are those of Loving others, we will get along.

I attended Otterbein University for three years studying mathematics and worked to get my license as a teacher in the state of Ohio. I have diverged from that path however to pursue a Do It Yourself (DIY) or autodidactic education. I hope to continue to grow as a mathematician and a teacher instead of merely seeking "accreditation" and a worthless piece of paper. In 2016 I started my own "school" that teaches kids through their passions as apposed to what adults or a curriculum thinks they should learn. You can check it out at www.learning.coop

In this way I want to dedicate the rest of my life to helping others. In the summer of 2011 I participated in a cross country bicycle ride with the nonprofit organization Bike&Build. I biked from Portland Maine to Southern California, helping to build ten houses as I went, and raising awareness for the affordable housing cause. Prior to the trip I raised over $4000 and as an organization Bike&Build has raised of $2.1million for this much needed cause.

Also, if you couldn't tell, I am a pretty big optimist :)

PHILOSOPHY

"Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of."
~Charles Richards

"What's the world's greatest lie?... It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate."
~Paulo Coelho

"Adventure is a path. Real adventure --€“ self-determined, self-motivated, often risky -- forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white."
~Mark Jenkins

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have participated by surfing, hosting, and attending meetups in my areas. As this community grows it is my goal to help other have the most positive experience possible, so that they will pass on the kindness and generosity that I have received.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have had a phenomenal experience staying with multiple hosts during a month long holiday in Europe. I have also been hosted in Boston, Santa Barbara California, Galveston, Austin Texas, Seoul South Korea, Busan South Korea, and China, each time meeting life changing people and seeing beautiful sites.

I really look forward to giving back now that I have my own place.

Interests

I love Go ( Wei Qi, Baduk, Igo), puzzles, art, language, history, math, juggling, locksport, movies, gelato, swing dancing ( lindy hop ), discussing philosophy, rock climbing, math, magic, singing, playing french horn, trumpet, piano, theramin, meeting new people and make friends for life, and most importantly learning new things.

My current passion on which I am focusing is the board game Go (also known as weiqi, baduk, or i-go) and Swing Dancing.

• dogs
• arts
• writing
• books
• singing
• diy
• dancing
• swing dancing
• education
• drinking
• politics
• movies
• traveling
• puzzles
• juggling
• magic
• piano
• trumpet
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• atheism
• rock climbing
• teaching
• history
• logic
• mathematics
• religion
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: The Alchemist, Sidhartha, Ishmael, Born to Run, Higher Education?, The Duino Elegies by Rilke, On The Shortness of Life by Sarte, The Death of Ivan Ilych by Tolstoy, Survival of the Sickest, 1984, Travels, The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, THREE CUPS OF TEA, A Long Way Gone, The Harry Potter Series, Fahrenheit 451, The DaVinci Code, Angels And Demons.
Music: Everything except skreemo
Movies: V for Vendetta, The Matrix, IP Man, Moulin Rouge, As It Is In Heaven, Kundun, Blind Side, Yes Man, A Walk To Remember, Across the Universe, Finding Forrester, Who Killed The Electric Car, Howl's Moving Castle, Taken, Wall-E, Fight Club, The Boondock Saints, The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Into The Wild, and many more.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went surfing in Hawaii with some locals and when I caught my first wave I actually felt like my spirit was one with the ocean. I've also been surfing in South Korea.

I have kayaked in Alaska and in the same trip I ice climbed in the crevice of a glacier.

I have been in love and I have had a broke heart.

I have been rock climbing with a 4 time world champion in the South of France.

I have been to Antarctica and played with the penguins.

I have been Swing Dancing in South Korea.

And I have biked across the US, from Portland Maine to Santa Barbara California. It was pretty amazing.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach juggling, lockpicking, algebra, geometry, calculus, logic, magic tricks, and swing dancing (jitterbug, lindy hop, charleston, east coast). I hope to learn many interesting things. I am always open to hear peoples opinions on politics, history, and religion. I can also teach you a 4000 year old Chinese game called Go and I would love to go rock climbing with you if you need a partner.

I love to learn. Please, teach me of the things you are passionate about.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, South Korea, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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