Hey people! I'm an American taking a break from university to figure out what the heck I want to do with my life. I figured throwing myself into different cultures and meeting new people would be a grand way to facilitate my goal. :)

My peers tell me that I'm one of the friendlier people they know and that I'm highly spontaneous and insatiably curious. When I'm stuck trying to decide which path to take, my life philosophy is to choose the one most likely to produce a better story.

Anyway, I'm an easygoing chap who's excited to see and learn more about the world and myself.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I recently got my first taste of international travel via study abroad in China. I enjoyed it so much that I've decided to take a break from school to get a "real education" by diving into more foreign cultures.

Several friends and family members have told me of their positive experiences with CS, so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm excited to be part of this community and to meet awesome people.

Interests

Mostly anything related to music. Watching street performers, checking out local jazz clubs, going to concerts, and the like.

I also love trying new and unique foods. If it's something I can't get back home, if it's a local specialty, or if eating it will give me a good story to tell, I'm game! I try to eat like the locals wherever I go, and I can handle spicy very well.

Other than that, I like anything that helps me engage with the culture I'm in. Walking around for hours and intentionally getting lost, hiking, cycling, people watching, and a million other things. I'm always up for trying something new.

• culture
• concerts
• education
• cooking
• coffee
• walking
• clubbing
• reading
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• piano
• cycling
• hiking
• scuba diving
• teaching
• study abroad
• hitchhiking

Music, Movies, and Books

--Music--
Hiromi Uehara (jazz), Yoko Kanno (film scores), Nobuo Uematsu (video game music), Rachmaninov (classical), Zedd (electronic), Queen (rock), The King's Singers (a capella), Victor Wooten (funk)

--Movies--
Shawshank Redemption, Princess Mononoke, The Prestige, The Princess Bride, Life of Pi, Galaxy Quest, Lord of the Rings, Interstellar

--Books--
What the Dog Saw, Lost On Planet China, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Sword of Truth series, World War Z

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was hitchhiking across Japan and got stranded deep in the countryside near Hiroshima. No public transportation, no wifi, and no daylight. I found a service station and, without me even asking, the staff took it upon themselves to give me coffee, find me a hotel room in my budget, and drive me through deviously winding mountain roads for an hour to reach it. They only spoke a few words of English, but they went out of their way to try to understand me and make me feel welcome in their country. They wouldn't accept any compensation either. I was really touched!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach basic Mandarin Chinese (reading pinyin, tones, simple grammar and sentences).

I want to learn about cooking, nutrition, and Japanese language, but I'd be thankful to learn anything.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm an aspiring film/video game composer with many years of musical experience. My dad is a piano teacher and my mom a singer, so I suppose it's in my blood. I'd be more than happy to share any knowledge at my disposal.

Play an instrument but don't know how to read music? Intimidated by chord charts or music theory? I'd love to lend a helping hand.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States