ABOUT ME

I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. When I got out of college, I thought about moving someplace new, and chose Chicago for a few reasons 1.) It was the only major American city where I didn't know a soul, and 2.) it has a hard grittiness that I love - I think Chicago has the very best and the very worst of America, and I have spent the last twelve years exploring both and learning and collaborating with those who are fighting to make this city even better.

I'd love to host visitors and show them my Chicago, which I've grown to love. I'm also interested in exploring other cities and finding out why my hosts love them.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have couchsurfed with some wonderful folks all over the US, and have welcomed many in my own home in Chicago. I have yet to couchsurf while traveling internationally, but I'm really looking forward to it.

MAKING REQUESTS AND STAYING IN MY HOME

There's nothing like running toward a megabus with a duffel bag in tow and trying to write a meaningful message to someone via a smartphone app. So don't bother! Copy-paste your request away - I will not auto decline your request if you accidentally call me "Kelly" because Kelly is the last person you messaged. No need to flatter my ego and read every word of my profile and make a case for why you deserve to be hosted. You already deserve to be hosted!

That said, I do favor surfers who have been involved in the CS community before - and that means surfing and/or hosting, or at least attending a couple of CS events. Yes, this is a free place to crash, but it's also a community where we are genuinely interested in getting to know each other and learn from each other.

I love hanging out with surfers and showing them around Chicago. But if our schedules don't match, or if you just want to be by yourself and do your own thing, that's fine too.

I don't think warning someone not to be an asshole makes any difference on whether they will be an asshole or not, so I won't bother. Plus I haven't met any so far on CS, so don't expect it to be a problem.

Fair warning, though: my dog Dorje already loves you. And he will show it when you arrive. So be prepared for that.

Interests

Swimming, meditation, hiking, getting lost in new places

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Good Night and Good Luck, Suspiria, Contact

Favorite current or recent TV shows: The Good Place, The Americans, Westworld, Veep

Favorite Authors: Richard Rodriguez, Kathy Acker, David Foster Wallace, Jane Mayer, James Baldwin, Zadie Smith, Alexander Hemon, Betty Smith, Michelle Alexander, Carl Sandburg, Joan Didion, Raymond Carver, Luís Alberto Urrea, Edwidge Danticat, Rebecca Solnit, Don Delillo, Masha Gessen, Ta-Nehisi Coates

Favorite comics: Hannibal Buress, Hannah Gadsby, Tiffany Hadish, Chelsea Peretti, Maria Bamford, Sarah Silverman, Eddie Murphy.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

1. Years ago, I was on a hike through the rainforest, and stopped on a fallen tree to rest. Oddly, the tree seemed to vibrate. I thought that maybe it was thunder, but after a few moments it became clear that the vibration was unique to the tree.

Finally I dug out my flashlight, walked to the end of the tree, and peered in. What I saw were hundred of bats, hanging upside down, perfectly awake. As I shone my flashlight on them, they each turned to look at me solemnly, turning their heads in unison and maintaining complete quiet.

2. Working in social services in some of the roughest neighborhoods in Chicago can leave you a little twisted. But there are many valuable moments in which I see strength of character and the ability to forgive and overcome odds, and those moments have left me with awe.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States