CURRENT MISSION

cultural and environmental exploration of Turkey - study folk music & dance, wildlife & wetlands, people & places, and food

ABOUT ME

I am socially progressive and environmentally minded. I value community and culture as an observer and organizer.

PHILOSOPHY

Practice respect, human dignity, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. Work hard, and love life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Looking to meet and stay with hosts abroad.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've stayed with friends and friends of friends while traveling, and have also hosted couch-surfers. Lately we've hosted touring musicians and bicyclists in my home.

Interests

fermented foods, folk music and dance of Eastern Europe, bird-watching, wetland and plant ecology, independent music, bicycles, environmental stewardship

• wildlife
• culture
• dancing
• dining
• beer
• traveling
• music
• folk music
• cycling
• swimming
• ecology
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Eastern European folk and brass bands (I play in one called Inspector Gadje); avant-garde jazz and improvisational music; klezmer; Tuvan throat singing; Colin Stetson's saxophonics; Eric Dolphy; Louis Sclavis; Naftule Brandwein; Ivo Papasov; Magnetic Fields; Johnathan Richmond; quirky and edgy rock music, etc.

a few recent reads: Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Letham, lots by Italo Calvino, American Pastoral by Phillip Roth, Seeing by Jorge Saramago, Absurdistan by Gary Steingart, the Lemon Tree

recent notable cinematics: Ross McElwee films, Juno, the Kids are Alright; Genghis Blues; Latcho Drom; Sexy Saxman on youtube

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Braved the icy waters and sub-freezing air temperatures of the Long Island Sound in mid-winter. That was one exhilarating, yet numbing experience!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a practiced fermentor and have given workshops on sauerkraut, pickles, ginger beer and other delectables.

I've taught klezmer music, plant identification, shorebird identification, and natural history workshops.

Swimming technique.

Basic bike maintenance.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Greece, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States