I'm originally from Saskatoon, lived in the US for quite a while (California and Pennsylvania), and then returned to Canada, mostly living in the Ottawa-Gatineau area but also a bit in Montreal.

I'm very much a "people person." I especially enjoy meeting people with global perspectives and people with cultures different from my own, so this website is right up my alley. When I'm not preoccupied with studying or work, my favorite pastime is just to hang out and talk with friends, wherever it may be.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couch surfing fills a void for me. One thing that struck me early in life was how different cultures led to different perceptions about sharing an individual's "space." Visiting India as a child, I saw my relatives doing things like socializing with their neighbors, visiting other people without having to call first, etc. I saw this kind of behaviour years later while living in Iqaluit. In Iqaluit, I also saw people leaving their cars unlocked so homeless people could sleep in them for the night without having to break a window. (The latter practice may have had something to do with extremely hostile weather conditions, however.)

But I've also seen something quite different. While living in LA, I saw people put bars on their windows and barbed-wire fences around their yards--even in neighborhoods with fairly low crime rates; people consciously avoiding conversations with their neighbors; people threatening each other with guns; etc. That's not the way I want to live. Couch surfers can exemplify humanity at its finest. There certainly are bad apples among couch surfers, but for the most part, couch surfers are good people who can also see the good in other people.

So far, I've hosted: Steve from Germany; Justine and Loic from France; Gary and Irene from Taiwan; Bjoern and Torben from Germany; Aimade and Anissa from France; Jackie from Winnipeg; Flo from Germany; Akash from Dallas / Oklahoma City; Jesse from Montreal / Los Angeles; Fabiola from Toronto; Kathleen from Frankfurt (Oder) / Berlin, Germany; Lisa and Emilda from Pays de la Loire, France; Christian from Toronto; Anika and Mirko from Jena, Germany.

I've surfed at: Suhail's in Toronto; Louise's in Ottawa; Tony's in Ottawa; Rob's in Ottawa; Jean-Michel's in Montreal; Marlies' in Toronto; Christian and Isabelle's in Montreal; Yan's in Montreal.

When I surf or host, I much prefer a pet-free, smoke-free environment as my allergies can be quite severe. It is hard for me to breathe with smokers around; most cats and many dogs also make it hard from me to breathe. I don't smoke or drink. I'm generally quiet. I usually go to sleep around 11 pm but I can try to sleep a bit earlier or later if necessary.

Interests

Current events, progressive politics, finance, stand up and improv comedy, amateur theater, music, movies.

• environment
• house parties
• politics
• socializing
• economics
• mathematics

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: The Godfather Parts I and II. Bend It Like Beckham. Fight Club. Sorry to Bother You. Quentin Tarantino movies.

Music: Arcade Fire, U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Nirvana, The Cure, Outkast, Depeche Mode, No Doubt, and many more.

Books, Poetry, and Short Stories: Anything Can Happen (Papashvily and Papashvily), The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Black Like Me (Griffin), The Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, Confessions of a Street Addict, The Fencepost Chronicles (Kinsella), Getting The Love You Want (H. Hendrix), One L (Turow), Pale Grace (S.D. Johnson), Perfume (Suskind), White Nights (Dostoyevsky).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once snuck into and sat in the driver's seat of Malcolm X's car--which I believe is a black 1963 Oldsmobile 98.

Also, I've been to 9 countries--all were pretty amazing.

Teach, Learn, Share

I like to do all 3 of these things. Ask me anything.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have some interesting stories I can share.

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Kuwait, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, India, United States