CURRENT MISSION

To explore the stories of the people and places I visit.

ABOUT ME

Vancouver-born and Victoria-bred, I'm a Canadian transplant now living in Melbourne, Australia where I'm completing my Masters degree in Chemical Engineering.

I work in communications for Engineers Without Borders Australia, lead runs for Nike Running and travel as much as possible when time allows.

Share your story with me, and I'll share mine!

PHILOSOPHY

You undergo three substantial perspective shifts when you start to consider yourself a writer. First, your life becomes something to be mined for content and you begin to pick out all the wonderful narratives you live on a day to day basis. Second, you realize how every decision you make has a larger impact on your personal story. Third, you begin to go out of your way to make things happen. This combination of conscientiousness, retrospection and risk taking are key to living your most fulfilling life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I got into couchsurfing while travelling in Sumatra in 2013. Since then I've surfed in Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Peru and Madagascar and hosted in Canada while meeting dozens of awesome surfers everywhere in between.

I wouldn't trade the relationships I've forged for the plushest hotel bed in the world!

Interests

Writing. Chemistry. Photography. Running. Rock Climbing.

• writing
• photography
• beer
• running
• clothing
• traveling
• rock climbing
• chemistry
• communications
• engineering

Music, Movies, and Books

I find most movies hard to sit through but I'm definitely a book guy. Some of my favourite recent reads are:

East of Eden - John Steinbeck
Barney's Version - Mordecai Richler
The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel García Márquez
The Tiger - John Valliant
Into Thin Air - John Krakauer
The Satanic Verses - Salman Rushdie
419 - Will Ferguson

...And about a trillion essays and short stories.

As per music: I'll take the works.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Just this past year, outside of writing I’ve put money in the bank by: teaching English, tutoring chemistry, writing patient resources, modelling clothing, planting sea-grass, pouring beer, managing a retirement home and selling menswear. It’s amazing how despite all this doom and gloom about the economy I’ve found it very hard to starve.

A fulfilling life is the sum of experience. The ability to diversify that through the odd three-week contract seems too good to pass up!

Teach, Learn, Share

I've formally studied chemistry and creative writing, professionally perfected my photography skills, and am informally a student of the world.

I love to share what I've learned and always strive to improve my skills. Let's shoot together, read each others work, or simply share a joke or two.

What I Can Share with Hosts

In the past I've:

Shot professional headshots for my hosts.
Edited content for their websites.
Volunteered to teach English and Elementary School.
Attempted to craft poutine out of foreign ingredients.

I love to share foreign beers I've picked up along my travels -- but ultimately I live to swap stories.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, Kenya, Thailand

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