CURRENT MISSION

Share cutural understanding via Aikido, Adventures, & Cultural Events.

ABOUT ME

I am a simple guy who enjoys diverse outdoor activities from simple day hiking to technical climbing/rafting. I also enjoy serious training in martial arts. Been practicing Aikido since 1998 plus three years of Taiji. I believe in volunteer works and have some of my best life experiences with many great non-profit organizations. You can find more information about me from the following three sites:

http://www.facebook.com/ricky.tam
http://www.shugenkai.net
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickytam

Additional information about me:
ISTJ - MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)
Driver/Driver - SS (Social Style)
Visual Learner - NLP (Neuro-Lingustic Programming)
S4 - Situational Leadership
I have many contradictions:
Fearful of water yet love rafting;
Have two left legs yet enjoy Aikido;
Introverted yet engage in and grateful for many friendships;
Musically challenged yet enjoy being the slowest student in my Taiko class;
Wish for more solitude yet teach Aikido every Wednesday;

Look forward meeting you f2f.

PHILOSOPHY

In Service with Love.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I will enjoy showing people around SF Bay Area or doing some camping trips. I enjoy rafting a lot and often time take friends down the river during the summer. If you are here during the season and interested, I will be happy to include you in some our private trips. Or you may want to come and join my Aikido class or attend a Taiko class with me.
I will continue to find ways to support local CS activities.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Just had my first potluck and had lots of fun meeting other members; I am very supportive of the idea after reading the mission and history of CS. Will take time to continue my learning about this.
I had participated several CS activities in HK and SF Bay Area.

Interests

Aikido, Rafting, Climbing, Taichi, Backpacking, Caving, Taiko, Cantonese Opera, System Thinking, and Traveling.

• arts
• education
• cooking
• potluck
• reading
• traveling
• volunteer work
• opera
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• spelunking
• camping
• scuba diving
• martial arts
• rock climbing
• teaching
• history
• volunteering
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

Star Wars, Star Trek, Seven Samurai, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, On Golden Pond, The Sixth Sense, The Sound Of Music, The Silk Road Home, House Of Flying Daggers, Hero, Master And Commander, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, Cinderella Man, An Officer And A Gentleman, Princess Mononoke, Grave Of The Fireflies, Mulan, Parenthood, The Fugitive, The Longest Day, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Ishmael, The Tipping Point,

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I rowed my 16 foot Avon Pro down the Grand Canyon in 1984 (21 days and almost 300 miles) Did several 4+ rivers in the NW region of USA.
In one of our search and rescue operations in the early 80s, we recovered four dead bodies - two were unexpected.
Stepped into a 747 and saw 400+ babies who just arrived from Vietnam. Each one of us was in charge of one baby. President Ford visited our bus on the way back to SF.
Did a single day hike up and down the Grand Canyon from the South Rim to the CO river.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:Aikido, Adventure Based Education (Outward Bound), Organization Developments, Leadership and Team Building Training, NLP, Rafting,
Share: Taiko, Taiji, Caving, Cantonese Opera, Search and Rescue.
Want to learn: ride motor cycle, diving, and cooking.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United States

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