CURRENT MISSION

Getting ready for hanami (cherry blossom viewing parties).

ABOUT ME

I've been an English teacher in Japan for many years. Before that, I was a travel writer and photographer, and I came to Japan to learn about the Eighty-Eight Temples Pilgrimage on Shikoku. I'm married, with a 10 year old daughter. She, my wife, and I all love picnicing, camping, reading, and music. Unfortunately, where we live, it's cold and damp in the winter and hot and humid in the summer -- terrible weather for picnicing or camping. My true recreational love is mountain hiking. This summer, I'm going to spend two weeks camping at Tuolumne Meadows, hiking and climbing during the day, sitting around the campfire at night.

PHILOSOPHY

Be aware (and have fun) and you will be kind.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None (yet).

Interests

Mountain hiking, travel, Buddhism, Harry Potter, Mozart, picnics.

• writing
• partying
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• camping
• buddhist
• rock climbing
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Harry Potter
P.G. Wodehouse
Dickens
Mark Twain
Mozart
Chopin
Schubert
Palestrina

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm not sure, but I think I was the first non-Japanese to walk the Eight-eight Temples of Shikoku pilgrimage in reverse order.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Burundi, Canada, China, Egypt, France, India, Israel, Kenya, Nepal, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Turkey, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom