CURRENT MISSION

By being a New Orleanian wherever I am,I can help save and preserve the culture of my home.

ABOUT ME

I grew up in Chalmette and New Orleans, Louisiana, and sometimes I feel like the last of the Mohicans. I am exceptionally well traveled, which is rare for most New Orleanians (we like to stay home). About 12 years ago I discovered my true passion, which is riding a bike. I became obsessed about 7 years ago, wrote my wingnut manifesto and offended and alienated a huge portion of my family and social circle. I feel that if we all rode bikes we could start to save ourselves and the world by becoming healthier, reducing CO2 emissions, and providing affordable transportation to all. In turn, this would change the way we live and reduce suburban sprawl. It's not such a radical notion, is it?

At that time in life I started doing as much as I could to become more active, to focus on real human interactions rather than distractions, and to foster a sense of community wherever I could. I still lived a very comfortable life however and was relatively unaware of my privilege.

All of that changed with Katrina, the failure of the levees, and the disgusting display of apathy to human suffering that followed.

After Katrina I started documenting and photographing everything I could. I want to tell the story of this place one day, but I feel like so much of my experience is yet to happen. I also became heavily involved with Plan B, the New Orleans Community Bike Project, because it feels like it allows me to actually cause an impact and help foster real change for New Orleanians, and in a greater sense, the world.

For money, I work at a neighborhood bar once a week. It's pretty rad. I don't make much, but it's enough to get by.

I'm also a pretty accomplished photographer and take joy in it. Hopefully I'll be putting up a few pics soon.

When we returned to this devastated city after Katrina, I made a pact with two friends that we would go through the experience with our eyes wide open and try to affect all of the change that we could to save our home. I'm still living that way today.

PHILOSOPHY

Be the change.

Fear is the root of all anger.

Shun hypocrisy.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Couchsurfing fits in perfectly to my worldview because I feel that isolationism and distraction are some of the biggest issues of the day. In fact, if our culture would promote the concepts of interpersonal connection and cross cultural communication as virtues, maybe we wouldn't be in as much trouble on a global scale as we are today.

I feel that it is my duty and mission to preserve New Orleans culture and share it with anyone who can appreciate it.

If you visit I will show you all that I can and help foster an understanding of why New Orleans matters so very much. We are "the canary in the coal mine" for the rest of the world,and this little canary is struggling for air. We may not be around for very long but as long as I breathe air, New Orleans culture will survive.

When I travel I want to understand other cultures and learn as much as I can. I want to be a good guest and an even better host.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I hosted my first CS'er back in October, 2008 and it turned me off top couch surfing for a while. I was naive and I ended up with the Couchsurfer that wouldn't leave and had no place to go. The jerk stole my shoes! This turned me off to Couchsurfing for a while but I'm ready to give it another shot.

Interests

Second lines, New Orleans music, travel, art, bikes.

• arts
• culture
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• surfing

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, France, Gibraltar, Italy, Japan, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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