How can anyone ever fill this stuff out? I have a large online footprint if you Google Ellen Malloy Chicago. I was/am/have:
been solo, slow traveling for a year; internationally since June 1, 2016
:: a restaurant publicist for about 15 years for Chicago's fancy restaurants
:: a culinary degree and a MBA—you hungry? I'll cook for you!
:: a VC-funded startup founder
:: multiple-time dog & cat rescue mom
:: backyard gardener, chicken-keeper, jam-maker

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I realized when I turned 50 and hadn't gotten around to getting married or having babies that I had hit the jackpot of freedom to travel the world. I mostly do house sitting gigs but am looking to supplement with couch surfing because I realized that the time between house sits (which are all done solo), it might seem luxurious to hang in a hotel with a big tub, stocked minibar, and a clean linens, but what I really would love to do is to talk to a human.

I am just too much of an introvert to think about tackling the hostel situation.

Getting to know one person—BRING IT!

Finding oneself in an impromtu party (probably fun, I am so sure, but EEK!), I'd sneak off to the kitchen and just cook up some food for everyone...

So, couchsitting seemed a happy medium.

Interests

Look, I'm interested in everything and can lose myself in a conversation about how amber is made as easily as I can talk about the implications of digital privacy. I don't really have "an interest" as much as I am interested with whatever happens to be interesting ...

• being alive

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Hillbilly music from any culture (they've all got their hillbilly and it's all awesome)

Movies: I have been a solo traveler for more than a year, I'll watch ANYTHING at this point. OMG the horrible movies I have happily sat through.

Books: I read ~two books a week so I can not and will not pick. Last week I read "Lincoln's Melancholia," "When Breath Becomes Air," and "The Man Without Qualities," (OK, three last week, I was on a lot of airplanes).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

To you: Probably that I worked for Michael Jordan and can share his famous blue margarita recipe. If that statement seems terrifically horrible in theory, we'll probably get along even better.

To me: I left the conventions of society behind. It isn't that it was brave; it is extraordinarily far more mundane than one could imagine. But I did it.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: Cooking. I learned from/cooked with/and know personally the best chefs in America. They taught me a few things.

Learn: Isn't learning the point of living? I'd learn everything if I could live that long; though the longer I live, the less I seem to realize I know.

Share: I lent my killa noise-canceling headphones to my Melbourne house-sitting host since she'll be on an airplane for 23 hours and had... standard Apple headphones... EEEK! I'm not sure if that is what was meant for this section but since I had met her three minutes before this loaning transaction, it seemed like it might say a lot about the kind of person I am so that's what I decided to put in this box.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, United States