CURRENT MISSION

I am in the midst of a 2 year trip around the world! I spent last year (2009-2010) in wonderful South America. This year (2010-2011) I will see much of the rest of the world (South and Central Asia, India, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe).

ABOUT ME

I am outgoing, adventurous, and love meeting new people from different backgrounds/cultures as I travel around the world. I love to laugh, and am occasionally very silly. I am deeply passionate about music and travel with a guitar so I can sing/play while I am backpacking (from just jamming with friends to playing open-mic nights).

In the long-term, I'm really committed to public service and making the world a better place. Before I began traveling, I devoted 4 years of my life (post-college) to helping low-income students in America receive a high quality education. When I return to the US in 2011, I'll be heading to graduate school to study economics, politics, and management. I'm excited to learn more, work with others, and contribute to progressive social causes.

To see pictures from my recent travels, check out my blog. I'm posting 1 picture/day for 365 days this year to chronicle my adventures around the world.

http://365project.org/davidstanley/365

PHILOSOPHY

Todo es posible (Anything is possible).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'll be using CouchSurfing to meet other world travelers, surf couches on occasion, and meet local residents in the countries I visit. When I return to the US in Summer/Fall 2011, I'll look forward to opening my house or apartment to people I meet in my time abroad.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been a member of this site for a while, but I'm finally just getting started in using it. I'm looking forward to meeting other travelers and surfing couches in the months ahead.

Interests

Travel, film, music (listening and playing), hiking, reading, the beach, cities, education, politics, language study, great food, and great people.

• singing
• causes
• education
• dining
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• backpacking
• surfing
• economics
• teaching
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite TV Shows: Mad Men, House, The Daily Show, No Reservations, Entourage, The Office, West Wing, Glee, Seinfeld, Southpark, The Wire, The Colbert Report, Modern Family.

Favorite Movies: I'm a HUGE film/movie fan. Here is a random handful...

Inception, The Motorcycle Diaries, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Slumdog Milionaire, Dr. Strangelove, Without Limits, Spinal Tap, Chinatown, Memento, The Sting, The Big Lebowski, Psycho, Lord of the Rings, El Secreto en Sus Ojos. And on and on.

Favorite Books (A Handful): Black Boy, Siddhartha, Ender's Game, Brave New World, The Odyssey, Othello, Lolita, A Confederacy of Dunces, Dreams From My Father, Vagabonding: The Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel.

Music: U2, Springsteen, The Beatles, The Stones, Talib Kweli, Counting Crows, Ozomatli, Soda Stereo, Chambao, The Who, As Tall As Lions, Black Eyed Peas, Guster, Kanye, The Killers, Kings Of Leon, Kenna, Maroon 5, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, The Shins, The Smiths. And onward through iTunes.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Highlights from my travels so far: Machu Picchu (Peru), Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia), Patagonia (Chile/Argentina), Rio de Janiero (Brazil), Cartagena (Colombia), All of Israel, Kyoto (Japan), Bali (Indonesia), Northern Thailand, Norther Laos, Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Halong Bay (Vietnam).

Teach, Learn, Share

Two great organizations I've been involved in professionally. Check them out.

www.teachforamerica.org
www.teachfoallnetwork.org

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Laos, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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