CURRENT MISSION

Mental health reform.

ABOUT ME

Interesting person.

PHILOSOPHY

Seems a bit pompous to write a personal philosophy, but I am passionate about a few things including social justice, immigration reform, and promoting treatment for mental illness through increasing communication between providers and families and through overcoming the stigma associated with mental illness which I believe is costing lives, much in the same way that stigma cost lives to HIV/AIDS 30 years ago.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'd be very happy to meet travelers and show them around this part of Oregon and Washington. Wherever I have traveled in my life, I have sought out the people who live there to see what life is really like. It is a great way to get beyond the superficial. But please do not ask me for a place to stay unless you can articulate why you want to stay with me, not just that you want a free place to stay. Also don't ask with less than 5 days notice. Thanks.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I visited with 5 hosts while living in Europe in '08-'09...two in Croatia, two in Slovakia, and one in Italy. It is a great way to get to meet local people and learn a lot more about an area than one would from a guidebook. I've also hosted a couple times since moving to Portland. Also good experiences.

Interests

Hiking, boating, backpacking, skiing, sailing, biking...if it's outdoors, it's good!

• boating
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• sailing
• skiing

Music, Movies, and Books

Des Hommes et Dieux = film. (Of Gods and Men in English)
An Equal Music = book.
Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber = music.

If none of these make you cry, you might want to seek out a spiritual adviser.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have seen 1000 wildebeeste, perhaps 10,000, trying to cross the Mara River in Kenya during migration. Probably 10% made it; the rest drowned. I cannot describe it, but in some way I thought I had seen the face of God that afternoon.

Countries I’ve Visited

Antarctica, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Martinique, Montenegro, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Peru, Poland, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Virgin Islands, British, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Guatemala, Malawi, Mexico, Slovakia, United States