I'm a huge music geek and a word nerd. Been dabbling in a number of languages since my college days and am heading back to Turkey in fall for a second year of teaching English. I'm flexible, reasonable, and non-judgmental, and I enjoy talking to open-minded people from all backgrounds. I'm also a bit of a goofball once I loosen up.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm most interested for the cultural exchange and for the possibility of seeing the sights from a local's point of view and learning more about the culture without needing the proxy of a guidebook. I also enjoy hosting and showing people around, hearing their stories, and getting new perspectives.

Interests

Music, language, linguistics, reading (fiction and nonfiction, especially articles re: social justice, global issues, etc.), biking, swimming, hiking, exploring, trying new cuisines, wordplay

• culture
• reading
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• swimming
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Music lately: Braids, No Joy, Holly Herndon, Alpine, Melt-Banana, Stealing Sheep, Pinkshinyultrablast
Always: Kate Bush, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Broadcast, Xiu Xiu, Dirty Projectors, PJ Harvey, Juana Molina, Deerhoof, The National, Björk...
electronic, experimental, shoegaze, dream pop, ambient, crazy lady singers

Movies: Dancer in the Dark, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hausu; Pedro Almodóvar, Lars von Trier, Stanley Kubrick

Books: If on a Winter's Night a Traveler, Super Sad True Love Story, The Rules of Attraction; Haruki Murakami, Bret Easton Ellis, Kurt Vonnegut

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I got a Fulbright grant to teach English at the university level in Turkey, and I'm going back for a second year.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Linguistic factoids, well-informed music recommendations, good conversation, a sounding board for whatever ails you

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, Turkey