ABOUT ME

They would probably say a number of things, including: telling long stories about the series of antics we've gotten in during our friendship; tell you that I don't put on a front around other people---I try to be myself at all times and this is something they value; tell you that although I am generally very relaxed, I also know how to let loose and enjoy myself; lastly, they might tell you I talk to no ends about music, day and night.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because staying in hotels is boring. Better to meet the people who know the area you are travelling to or to show them what your area is all about.

Interests

Music of all kinds. I enjoy listening to music at home, going to hear music live, and even playing music from time to time. The blues has my heart.

Reading occupies much of my time as does writing. I primarily write poetry, but I read short-stories, novels, non-fiction and just about anything else I can get my hands on.

I also love meeting people from different places, cultures, and with different ways of seeing the world. It keeps me going.

I also have a mean travel bug which I am constantly at work to satisfy.

• writing
• poetry
• singing
• environment
• running
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• blues

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a movie buff and love to talk about movies of all sorts. I'm a big fan of films by Christopher Nolan, The Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, and David Lynch. I go back and forth between a love for serious cinema and classics like Indiana Jones or Back to the Future.

Music? Whew, it's tough to say it all. I listen to anything from indie-rock, jazz, rap(more old school than new), punk, experimental rock, classic rock, singer song-writers and especially the blues. I'm also a huge Neil Young fan.

It hurts my head to try to pick a favorite book. Here's a few:
Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner(and many of his other novels)
Any of Flannery O'Conner's short stories.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabakov
White Noise by Don Delillo
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Anything by Mark Twain.

Poetry: Dorriane Laux, Philip Levine, Pablo Neruda, Nikky Finney, T.S. Elliot, Allen Ginsberg, Charlie Smith, Rita Dove, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Rimbaud, Billy Collins, and many more.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Two moments? Okay.

The first was the first time I decided to travel outside the United States. I traveled to Costa Rica and Panama shortly after I graduated high school. At the time, I knew almost no Spanish but fortunately a member of my group was fluent in the language. I can't pick one part of the trip over the rest, but merely being at the mercy of others and living in an environment foreign to that which I knew was an experience in itself. Though I was only there for 2 weeks, the differences in cultures and mentality influenced me in a way that I haven't wanted to let go of since. A few highlights while I was there were: drinking in a little bar in Paso Canoas(at the border between Costa Rica and Panama; our time spent with a fellow CouchSurfer in David, Panama; visiting the various museums sprinkled about Panama; and, lastly, the Panama Canal(touristy as it may be).

The second moment was my first night living in Salamanca, Spain(where I am currently living as I write this. Our group arrived the night of the important futbol game where Spain faced Italy for a chance at the Euro Cup. My roommate Brant and our two friends Alex and Christian bought our jerseys, got painted up(by our host mothers, of course), and found ourselves a prime spot in Salamanca's Plaza Mayor. In the midst of all the joy during the game---which was a complete victory on the part of Spain--- we managed to befriend a few native Spanish speakers who live in Salamanca. What then ensued was a night of festivities ranging from singing celebratory songs we had just learned the words to, drinking with our new friends, running through the streets with thousands of other jersey-clad people, and feeling thoroughly welcomed to our new home in Spain.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, France, Panama, Portugal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Spain, United States