CURRENT MISSION

Kindness, connecting to others, staying present.

ABOUT ME

First of all, I don't really think in paragraph form, so here are the bullet points.

-Unassuming and thoughtful. I love a good, deep conversation.
-I love to make things. It doesn't matter as much what, I just like figuring out how to do it.
-I am a man of simple means. If I could only keep one thing I own, it would probably be my hammock.
-I know what my values are. At the same time, I love to have them challenged by new people, places, and ideas.

PHILOSOPHY

Be aware, be thankful, and give back.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

One night of surfing so far. Looking forward to my next host or stay!

Interests

Friends. The people that I get to share my life with are always humbling me with their talents and goals, and inspiring me to do more with myself.

• beauty
• backpacking
• surfing
• mathematics
• science
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Fleet Foxes, The White Stripes, Tallest Man on Earth, trance, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Woodie Guthrie, Beethoven, bluegrass

Movies: anything by the Coen bros, anything with a soundtrack by John Williams, Of Gods and Men, Cool Runnings. Stuff that makes me think, and shows me something true and beautiful.

Books: Lord of the Rings trilogy, Moby Dick, Dr. Seuss, trail maps

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One day, driving to work while living in Seattle, I saw the sun rising behind Mt. Ranier. All around me, the city glistened. Despite being in financial poverty, I realized in that moment that even though I seemingly had nothing, I actually was rich beyond belief. I have the most precious gift of life, the gift that all other gifts stem from.

Another sunrise story: In Guatemala, a friend and I took a guided backpack trip up Volcan Tajumulco, the country's highest point. When we woke up in the morning to see the sunrise, we were disappointed to find a cloudy dawn. But as the sun rose, the clouds began to glow. They soon parted, and we had a stunning view of the surrounding country. Bright sun reflected off the fog-laden valleys, making them appear to be rivers of gold. True beauty is so surprising. It comes in ways unexpected, and far surpasses our own tiny preconceptions.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: Math and science. Need some tutoring?

Learn: Really, I love to hear about anything you are passionate about.

Share: I make good breakfasts.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States