CURRENT MISSION

Meet people. See places. Life is only so long. Estoy probando aprenderlo el espanol.... si lo hables, quedate conmigo :)

ABOUT ME

I'm a scientist by trade, but a lover of people and cities by heart. I love my city and I want to show it to you :) I'm friendly and welcoming, and I don't want you to just "sleep on my couch," I want you to let me help you explore my beautiful city, and get to know Chicago! Every couchsurfer I have hosted so far I have become friends with, and I hope the same for whoever is next! :)

**I also am trans, having started transition in April 2016. Looking for open or like-minded individuals to connect with. I'm happy to share my story and engage with you about this if you're so inclined, etc.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on couchsurfing because this is a freaking brilliant idea! A way to see the world (on the cheap) AND get to know some really cool people from some really cool places! What more can you ask for?

Interests

I'd say my #1 interest is exploring; is that an interest? I also run, cook, hike, and pretend I live in a place with cool weather. I love a good glass of wine, or a discussion about politics, or even just a fun night dancing in a bar.

• arts
• dancing
• cooking
• wine
• running
• politics
• socializing
• hiking
• snorkeling
• rock climbing
• track and field
• science
• tourism
• beaches

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Jose and I have been blessed in that we've been able to do a LOT of amazing things. A few that come to mind are - seeing a lion relaxing 20 feet away after a fresh kill on a safari in Namibia (August 2016), climbing a 2,500 year old pyramid in Mexico City (December 2015), getting lost in Istanbul and meeting a local who showed me around (Mick, only -- I tried sheep intestine!), going snorkeling off the coast of St Croix and seeing some incredible reefs, attending the Oscar red carpet ceremony and seeing every celebrity :), swimming in the blue lagoon in Malta, visiting the ancient ruins of Carthage in Tunisia, ... and the list goes on :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I promise to show you the best of my city. I love my city and I think sometimes she gets a bad rap. Chicago can be a confusing place to visit, and I promise to give you the best experience you'll ever have visiting the great city of Chicago.

I noticed that some people like to track who they've hosted. I think that's a GREAT idea. So here are mine :)

My COUCHSURFERS so far:

Anto y JP (Argentina) Oct 2014,
Michele and Vale (Verona, Italy) Nov 2014,
Andy (Adelaid, Aus) Nov-Dec 2014,
Farouk (UK/France/Malaysia) Jan 2015,
Celine (France/Toronto) Jan 2015,
Andre (Kansas...) Jan 2015,
Paul (Vermont -> Seattle) Jan-Feb 2015,
Luke (Sydney, Aus) Feb 2015,
Jess & Brian (Toledo, OH) Feb 2015,
Lionel (Belgium) Feb-Mar 2015,
Rob (London-ish, England) March 2015,
Melissa (Boston) March 2015,
Emiliano (everywhere) March 2015,
Nick (Philly) March 2015,
Jarrod & Tom (Sydney) April 2015,
Kit (Kuala Lumpur) April 2015,
Landon (Washington State) May 2015,
Alex (Germany) May 2015,
Nikita (Volgograd, Russia) June 2015.
Tom (Melbourne) July 2015
James (Perth) July 2015
Matthieu & Christine (France/Spain) July 2015
Vini and Simon! (Sweden) July 2015
Waylon (Katoomba, Australia) July 2015
Art (Australia) December 2015
Camilo y Karen (Colombia) January 2016

What I Can Share with Hosts

My gorgeous 2br apartment, a mile from the lakefront and 2 blocks west of Clark St in beautiful and accepting Andersonville!

*I do need to say that I will most likely not accept your request if you are "moving to the city" and looking to find sleeping arrangements while you search for an apartment. I get a surprising number of these requests. I'm on CouchSurfing to meet travelers, and to be a guide for those who are visiting this great city. For those moving here looking for arrangements, I wish you the best of luck with your move, and I don't mean ANY ill will whatsoever, I just want to make this clear :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Jamaica, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, U.S., Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States