CURRENT MISSION

Working on disaster relief projects in Northern Japan

ABOUT ME

I've got a background studying civil rights and refugee issues, and am currently based in Miyagi, Japan. I've been working on some large-scale projects, such as repairing tsunami hit community centers, helping develop a community shopping area, and building shelters so that remote communities have places to gather and work. The first year following the tsunami was a difficult experience, but since then the determine of the locals to rebuild their communities has been incredibly inspiring.

Before this I was a Coordinator for International Relations in Kagawa through the JET program. I have done a fair bit of traveling. Some of my favourite trips so far have been to Kosovo, China, Costa Rica Afghanistan and Austria. My next adventure plans are to visit a friend in Sweden in late October 2013. I haven't drawn up my travel map yet - but hope that CSers can give me some great ideas.

Follow that, I'd like to save up for a trip to the Macchu Pichu complex in Peru, or to ride on the new skytrain connecting Qinglai, China to Lhasa, Tibet.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm currently working on disaster relief projects in Northern Japan. Unfortunately I can't host travelers, but you would be welcome to join some of our volunteer projects. If you would like join one of our tsunami-relief projects, or would be interested in volunteering in Northern Japan, I'd be glad to help you find projects to help out with.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Have Couchsurfed in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Japan, Jordan, Afghanistan, Dubai, and hopefully will Couchsurf soon in Sweden.

Interests

Oil painting, hiking, mountain climbing, fitness, reading, ethnic minority solidarity movements, traveling, international issues.

"The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see." Gilbert K. Chesterton

• festivals
• civil rights
• fitness
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• hiking
• rock climbing
• international relations
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Farewell my Concubine, To Live, My Sassy Girl, Old Boy, Last Emperor, Flight of the Conchords, Mad Men, the Bookseller of Kabul,

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Volunteered in post-war Kosovo,
Lifted a 1500 pound portable shrine in Japan with 60 people, and twirled it around rapidly in celebration of an ancient festival.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Macedonia, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Afghanistan, Canada, Japan, South Korea

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