CURRENT MISSION

When I get a chance to travel, I'd rather meet new people and learn from them instead of a guidebook.

ABOUT ME

I've been traveling abroad quite frequently over the last 7 years, thanks to graduate school and a growing interest in seeing all corners of the world. I've been to 23 different countries, most in Europe, but recently realized that I've seen almost nothing in the USA. Therefore, if I'm contacting you, it's most likely to find lodging locally while I'm at a conference, or maybe I'm just passing through. I'd like to think that I'm an interesting person with lots of things to say. I also have a good sense of humor. Oh, and I've lived in Prague for 3.5 of the last 7 years. I speak Czech and I know that country pretty well, especially Prague.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm not really the type to develop a comprehensive life philosophy, at least not here. Ask me after 2-3 drinks.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Well I'd like to start offering a couch to people, particularly once I move in June to a new place in Andersonville, Chicago. In sum, if you're from some far flung place, I'd like to meet you, provided I have time, since I can get pretty busy at times. I give preference to traveling academics and artists.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Pretty darn fantastic. I stayed in New York with one of the coolest people I've met in a long time.

Interests

I am interested in European political, intellectual, and cultural history, and particularly political ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, nationalism, communism, etc). I also enjoy studying radical cultural movements (Surrealists, Dadaists, Constructivists, etc). When I'm not conducting research, I am reading William Gibson and Bolano for leisure. I also have a broad knowledge of eclectic music. In the end, I guess I'm interested in interesting things. I try to be versed in as many topics as I can, because it makes for better conversation.

In terms of activity, I love jogging, biking, hiking, and museum/gallery viewing. Lately I've been going on lots of architectural tours in Chicago.

• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• history
• tours

Music, Movies, and Books

See above.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked by myself through Cappadocia in Central Turkey. It was absolutely incredible. I slept in caves.

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