CURRENT MISSION

Fill every page of that passport! Update: mission accomplished. I had to send it in to get pages added. Cost me $72!

ABOUT ME

let's start with the basics: shy goofball. reserved but kind. i enjoy chatting with people about traveling. i really want to see the world, rather i've come to realize that the best part about seeing the world is meeting all the great people who live in it.

PHILOSOPHY

I do unto others...ok that sounds weird. Basically, I strive to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to people. I try NOT to ask (either out loud or just to myself) "What's in it for me?" I really believe the world could run on "How can I help?" as fuel.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Lately I've been surfing but I really look forward to getting my own place so that I can host as well as show off my town to visitors. I really enjoy being a tour guide for San Francisco and taking people to my favorite places to hang out, eat, see interesting things, etc.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first experience 'couch surfing' occured in 1995. It wasn't really under the aegis of CouchSurfing the website but it is the reason why I am using this site today: I was traveling through Spain during my spring break, trying to see as much of the country as possible. I stepped onto a train and a man (possibly of Middle Eastern origins) kept smiling at me and motioning me to walk over and sit next him. Nowadays, a person might be put off by this behavior but I was still young and friendly enough so I sat next to him. Turns out, he was a professional translator that worked in Cordoba (which is where I and the train was headed) and he was thinking I was a Japanese tourist whom he could practice his Japanese with. Sorry, to disappoint you buddy. Still, we had an interesting conversation where he complained about American tourist which I found kinda funny. What a grouch but still a nice guy! At any rate, I was flat broke and planning on staying in a hostel. He offered me his spare bedroom and I ended up (rather hesitantly at first) accepting his offer. And it went fine. We had dinner at some restaurant and then went out and drank beers and talked to girls. At the end of the night, we went back to his apartment and I slept in his guest bedroom. I was so touched by the generosity that this stranger offered me, especially after he discovered that I had nothing really to offer him other than my good company. It was this notion of kindness and gifting that I took away from it and when I first found out about CouchSurfing the website years later, it touched the same nerve. I knew that would get involved with CS and hopefully someday pay forward the kindness that I received on that train to Spain (hey that rhymes!)

Interests

travel (i'm absolutely addicted), eating, bicycling (want to start bike touring and couch surfing), film, beer, animation, design, architecture, urban planning. i like animals, being outdoors, hiking, cooking. i enjoy a good belly laugh and love to tease, joke around, and be sarcastic with people (it's definitely not for everyone!).

• animals
• architecture
• design
• festivals
• cooking
• recipes
• beer
• running
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• animation
• languages
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Uh well I'm a bit embarrassed to say I don't listen to much music or read many books these days. However, I absolutely love watching films. Just about anything: thrillers, sci-fi, comedies, dramas, documentaries, and animation as well. I'm a designer by trade so I suppose I enjoy the visual language of film. Something as obscure as the opening credit graphics can really catch my eye. That said, a great story is the most important part of a film. My favorite film of all time would still have to be The Godfather.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I suppose attending last year's (2010) Burning Man festival really changed me. This is where I met my first live CouchSurfers (they have a camp). BM really kind of renewed my faith in the human race and how altruistic and kind people can be, expecting nothing in return. In a way, I see CouchSurfing as a kindred institution in that philosophy. It's basically how I want to conduct myself in this world and life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I enjoying hearing people's stories and experiences especially when related to travel. I have also recently been enjoying the joy of cooking, specifically learning Chinese recipes from my mom. I've taken it upon myself to learn her best dishes and pass them onto others and perhaps my kids.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Taiwan, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States

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