My name is Jayden Schiff; I am in my early twenties and hail from the colorful republic of South Africa. I spent my earlier years growing up in Johannesburg, and my more recent years as a student in the sunny city of Cape Town.

After five arduous, yet extremely enriching years of academics, graduating at the University of Cape Town, with a Business Science Undergrad in Finance and Accounting and a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA), I find myself thirsty and curious.

Thirsty for experiences beyond the labeled ‘corporate life’, and curious to explore how other cultures, economies and communities assimilate together.I am an open minded traveller, facinated by different cultures. I bring energy and enthusiasm to everything I do.

I have spent the most part of 2015 abroad, as a deckhand on a charter yacht in Nassau, Bahamas, and am excited to travel Europe toward the end of the year.

See my blog and follow my journey:
https://escapingthemundane2015.wordpress.com

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I believe to truly experience a new city and its culture you need to meet the thing which creates the backbone of this culture; its people.

I believe travel is more memorable and meaningful when you meet interesting people along the way. As much as it is about seeing and experiencing new things, it is also about meeting different people who hold interesting perspectives and attitudes.

Travellers have a lot to learn from each other and couch surfing enables this.

Interests

>Photography
>Travel
>Food
>Music - Most genres from Alternative rock to trance music. With music, I listen with an open mind.
>Finance
>Festivals (Trance festivals)
>Wakeboarding
>Sport (Rugby, Football, Golf)

• culture
• photography
• festivals
• dining
• partying
• yachting
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• surfing
• wakeboarding
• sports
• soccer
• rugby
• golf
• business
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
I find myself listening to more and more rock music. It is timeless and isn't effected by commercial trends. Jimi Hendrix, Foo Fighters,Red Hot Chilipeppers,Ben Howard, Foals.
With this being said I also enjoy old school rap and a lot of electronic, more specifically Drum and Bass (netsky, Etherwood).

Books:
Massive fan of Scar Tissue by Anthony Keidis
Love John Grisham Novels

Movies:
Man on Fire

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

There are two things I am really proud of at the point in my life:

1. Following through on my 5 years of studying and completing two degrees in Accounting and Corporate Finance.

2. Being bold enough to leave South Africa for the Cote d'Azur with little money to pursue a job search as a deckhand in the Yachting industry and sucseeding.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a lot to share in terms of my experiences abroad. For a 23 year Old I feel I am well travelled and could offer advice and share my experiences.

I am fascinated by the cultural exchange that occurs when two open minded individuals meet about. This immediately creates the 'Teach and Learn' aspect. It is difficult to say what will be learnt, but that is usually discovered at the time of meeting the traveller.

What I Can Share with Hosts

This is flexible, and up to the host. I believe sharing and contribution to the household is the least a traveller should do. Being Irie and sharing will bring good vibes to the hosts and both parties will be enriched by the experience.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Botswana, Chile, France, Italy, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bahamas, South Africa