I'm an English and Humanities teacher at the high school level. I reside in Toronto, ON, Canada. I am a lover of literature and music, and enjoy writing poetry and folk songs and playing my guitar. You can hear some of my music by looking up "Jonah Cross". I am passionate about art and history, including philosophy and theology. I love classic film and live music, finding cozy cafes for a hot tea or latte and a good discussion or game of chess, and discovering new languages and cultures.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Will be travelling over the next few weeks (and more in the future) and want to be able to meet new people and make local friends to benefit from the cultural exchange.

Interests

• books
• literature
• poetry
• folk music
• guitar
• christian
• tennis
• teaching
• philosophy
• language exchange
• turkish language
• shakespeare
• theology

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Folk music, roots & Americana, blues, jazz, country, and rock. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jimmie Rodgers, Simon & Garfunkel, M. Ward, Avett Brothers, etc.

Movies: Anything by Stanley Kubrick, Arrival, Pan's Labyrinth, Last of the Mohicans, Prometheus, Annie Hall, It’s A Wonderful Life...and many more.

Books: Old & New Testaments, Paradise Lost, Illiad & Odyssey, Aeneid, The Divine Comedy, Moby Dick, Oliver Twist, Heart of Darkness, Shakespeare, epic fantasy like The Wheel of Time series, etc. Classics, George Orwell, and all kinds of poetry.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Spent two months in Turkey and learned Turkish at TÖMER Üniversitesi

Teach, Learn, Share

I have extensive knowledge about philosophy and history, especially in the areas of comparative religious studies and theology. I have taught Humanities courses on World Religions and Christianity, as well as various periods of English literature, including Shakespeare, literary criticism, and classic novels. I would love to learn more about language and customs, food, and local history.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Friendship, fellowship, knowledge, music, and ideas!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, France, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada