Ahoy Couchsurfers!

I hail from Chicago and will very soon living in St. Paul, MN, working for the Minnesota Conservation Corps. I'm a former camp counselor, youth group leader, outdoor educator, and all around adventure-er seeking "the good stuff" from life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I was recently accepted into the Minnesota Conservation Corps, which is an AmeriCorps position that is dedicated to promoting environmental conservation efforts on private and public lands. While I'm incredibly excited for this position, trying to apartment hunt while living in Chicago has proved to be very challenging. I'm on Couchsurfing to connect with individuals who may be interested in hosting me for a short term (2-3 days or whatever you feel like) while I work and apartment hunt, as well as establish some social connections in the new city!

I'm looking for a place to keep my luggage while I'm at work during the day, and a couch or floor to rest my head at night. I love pets, and absolutely respect space.

Interests

I've become a bit of a tea connoisseur, enjoying a cuppa in the morning and a earl grey or coffee pu'erh with some pastry in the afternoon. I've also been really into cheese and hard cider pairing. I can make some amazing meals, my specialty being lentil tacos; just give me ALL THE FOOD.

When I'm not eating, I love adventuring. I've been doing three mile walks around my neighborhood, carrying a 45lbs sack. It helps with the winter blues and is getting me ready for the spring season, where I'm hoping to do a lot of kayaking and hiking. I'm also really into cycling, having built several bikes and actively engaging in several cycling communities in Chicago and on the internet. I'd really love to do a long cross country bike tour, as well as other bike adventures around the globe.

In the past year I've visited Seattle and Breckenridge, Colorado, and absolutely loved the progressive culture and love of nature from both places.

When indoors and stationary, you can either find me listening to tuneskis, reading a good book, or on Reddit looking at pictures of cats.

• pets
• cats
• culture
• books
• dining
• cheese
• coffee
• clothing
• reading
• traveling
• blues
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• bungee jumping
• teaching
• law
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Lately I've been on a big THE BAND kick, listening to Atlantic City several times a day and singing The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down at the top of my lungs. I love folk, rock, along with classic rock, soul, r&b, and everything in between. The next album that I will probably buy is Modest Mouse's "Strangers to Ourselves", which has been a long time coming. This album seems to have a bit of an environmental slant to it, which isn't uncommon for Modest Mouse, but really fitting for what I've been immersing myself into lately.

The last two books I read were "The Last Season" by Eric Blehm and "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer, both detailing humanity's communion with nature and the sometimes beautiful, often brutal, indifference of the universe. I like the heady stuff.

Who else is excited for Better Call Saul and Game of Thrones?!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Prior to being accepted into the MCC, I was going to move to Seattle from Chicago via bike. I put 95% of the bike together myself from a Surly Long Haul Trucker frameset I bought second hand, and spent all summer meticulously researching components and slowly acquiring them over three months. I had a professional look over my work and make necessary adjustments, then started training. Every day for a month I'd take my bike out and ride it thirty miles, trying to train for the 2,000 plus mile journey that laid ahead.

I started planning my route, making my way north first to visit some friends in Madison, then head through northern Iowa into Nebraska then South Dakota then Wyoming. From Wyoming I wanted to cut into Idaho, but the mountains were going to be a challenge. I originally wanted to go through Yellowstone, but hear there was still snow on the ground from LAST winter. I finally decided to catch a train from Salt Lake City to San Diego, then ride up the coast til I was in the Emerald City.

The day came. I had my panniers all packed and mounted to the racks on my bike, my tent rolled up bungee corded to the rear rack, my clothes bundled and on the front. I was ready to roll.

I wasn't expecting how heavy the bike would be. I wasn't expecting how hard it was to handle. I'm travelling across the country, which is taxing in it's own right, but then I'm also doing it by bike?

"I'm not ready."

That's the hardest truth I have ever had to admit to myself. I'm not ready for an adventure of this magnitude. I took everything off my bike and unpacked, while thinking "what do I do now?".

In those moments I felt embarrassed, naive, and disingenuine. I've told so many people that I was going on this grand adventure, spent time planning routes and money on gear, when I couldn't even get out of Chicago. Then I calmed down. I'm still all here. I'm alive. I'm okay.

This event in my life, while it didn't happen how I intended, had lead me to where I'm at now; I'm moving to a new city, I have an amazing new job, and the time I was able to spend stationary and reflecting lead to a very intimate relationship with my partner and I. These things couldn't have happened if I had left, and neither could have the reflection to lead me here. I wouldn't trade it for anything. There are more adventures ahead!

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach me how to dougie?

What I Can Share with Hosts

As a gracious guest, there's a lot I can provide for my hosts, including groceries, household cleaning, pet sitting, and I can make some mean meals.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States