CURRENT MISSION

Post-pandemic travel while I'm vaccinated but still working remotely!

ABOUT ME

I was in academia for a while and found it horribly disappointing. Now I have a much better work/life balance, but I'm eager to still spend time in other communities and cultures. I've hiked the Appalachian Trail and lived for a while in a number of different countries, but now I'm a little bit more settled in Chicago, and am still trying to find opportunities to get out every now and again.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on couchsurfing because I believe that the only way to build a better world is through stronger community and sharing around, and from my experiences hosting and also traveling I have loved meeting new people and making new connections, and nothing can build those quite like sharing a roof!

Interests

I enjoy community-building, backpacking, awful low-budget horror films, board games, a cup of most any sort of warm tea, the writing of Tad Williams, novelty, the story-telling of others, good food eaten slowly, and the human condition. But not the pretentious or the patronizing.

• books
• theater
• cooking
• running
• movies
• board games
• traveling
• backpacking
• mountains
• a good argument

Music, Movies, and Books

Musically, I'm on a Los Campesinos/Tom Waits/Cat Power/Foals/Janelle Monae/Beyonce/tUnE-yArDs kick right meow.

It's been far too long since I've had the chance to read anything for pleasure, but I just finished the fourth Dune book and "Sometimes a Small Key can Open a Large Door" and currently am working on "Whipping Girl."

Looking forward to watching High-Rise sometime soon, and I've recently enjoyed Ex Machina and Roman.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent a few months living in Nicaragua with a host family, immersed, to learn the language, while working with a local environmental organization. I cannot write how much I learned or how overwhelming it was, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I've got stories to swap in spades. And I'm game to try anything at least once!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Kenya, Nicaragua, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cuba, Nicaragua, United Kingdom, United States