CURRENT MISSION

Meeting travelers and showing them the best places to eat, drink and play in Chicago!

ABOUT ME

After spending the last 10 months working as an English teacher in northeastern Thailand with my girlfriend we spent 6 months journeying through Southeast Asia and Europe. I am passionate and curious about food, culture and language. My personality is laid back and friendly, but I don't shy from voicing my opinions. I like to soak up knowledge whenever I can...consequently pub quiz/bar trivia is one of my strengths! :)

I have worked in the food/beverage service industry so I understand and appreciate good hospitality.

PHILOSOPHY

Sharing is so so very important. Whether its sharing money to someone in need, food with someone who has never tasted it before, language with a curious learner or helpful information to a fellow traveler. Sharing is one of the easiest things we can do.

Strangers are just friends we haven't met yet.

Get busy living, or get busy dying.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm interested in meeting up with CSers in any city I find myself in.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My girlfriend and I hosted 2 couch surfers at our apartment in Sisaket, Thailand. It was a great experience and we look forward to making loads of new friends!

Interests

I love to eat...everything! I'm seeking all of the local specialties and like to indulge myself in many cuisines. I think sharing a meal is the best way to get to know a place. I also love to cook...anything from Italian to Thai and I want to learn more! Let's cook together!

I am also passionate about wine...I've worked in wine retail and service back in the U.S. While traveling through Europe I hope to try many different wines. After spending most of 2013 in a part of the world with a lacking wine culture, needless to say, I'm looking forward to the chance to share wine with new friends.

I love to read...currently reading a hilarious travelogue about Australia...hope to go there one day!

• culture
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• drinking
• pub crawls
• trivia
• reading
• traveling
• scuba diving
• teaching
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Forrest Gump, Alien(s), Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction, Wedding Crashers, Good Will Hunting

Music: very eclectic! Some favorites...Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Bonobo, Kid Cudi, Miles Davis, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pearl Jam. I'm always interested in discovering new artists too!

Books: Animal Farm and 1984, The Geography of Bliss (great travel book!), Travel/food books by Anthony Bourdain

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Taught 150 amazing Thai students in Sisaket, Thailand

Earned my Open Water Scuba Diving certification in Koh Tao, Thailand

Went abseiling/canyoning in Da Lat, Vietnam

visited 22 states (9.77%)Create your own visited map of The World

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you English....we can talk about grammar if you like that kind of thing!

I like to learn new languages so I'd love to learn about yours, too! Especially funny/useful phrases that will impress the locals. :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can show you some of my favorite restaurants and bar in the city. Would love to cook with some fellow couch surfers and learn about each other's cultures! I'm a student of the world!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Cambodia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, Thailand, United States