HI - Marhaban - Qué tal?

I'm Madeline (or Mattie, or MK... no preference, whatever you like!) I grew up on a farm south of Cleveland, Ohio, but I've lived in Chicago for 6 years now. I finished my slog through two degrees last year (History&Theatre) and have been on the move since then.

I'm 24, I'm learning, I'm laughing a lot. I'm trying and failing and taking some risks.

In Chicago I spent most of my time as research historian for the Public Arts department of the Chicago Cultural Center. We're currently working on an exhibit of African American designers in Chicago in the 20th century. I also do landscaping.

I can't wait to meet all you beautiful people!! Hasta pronto!

#BlackLivesMatter #FreePalestine #TransUpFront #AbolitionNow #Fuck12 #NoDAPL #FuckPipelines

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love people more than anything. It's why I travel. It's why I do the work that I do. I would love to share some memories together and see your world. And share some of mine.

And you know... I am young, I am poor, living is hard, school is expensive, hotels are boring.

Interests

I'll try anything once (I say now...)

I love dancing.
I love being quiet all day.
I climb mountains (of the inclining trail variety, not the scale a wall kind) and swim in waterfalls.
I do a bit of art and a lot of reading.
I've spent my last years heavily invested in community organizing & activism (got heavily plugged in doing NoDAPL work...)
I love gardening and farms (farm kid), cows and animals.
I love the sun and green growing things.
Sometimes I do yoga.
Sometimes I don't do anything.
I'm learning Spanish and ASL and starting to dive into Arabic. Podemos practicer si hablas, o tener un intercambio si estás aprendiendo inglés!

• farm animals
• arts
• festivals
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• vegan
• traveling
• animal care
• drawing
• music
• electronic music
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• history
• social work
• language exchange
• learning languages
• activism
• farming
• asl
• environmental justice
• urban farming
• learning spanish
• palestine
• arabic culture

Music, Movies, and Books

I grew up with no cable, no movies, no ipods, and a crawling internet connection. So my technology habits are... stunted. To say the least.

I love listening to my friends music... I like so much of it (can name so little of it). Favorites of late that I can pull out of my brain: Kamasi Washington, Snarky Puppy, Erykah Badu, Sia, Destiny's Child (haha leave me be)

Favorite book:
The Glass Castle (Jeannette Walls)

Recently read:
Americanah (Chimimanda Ngozi Adiche)
The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao (Junot Diaz)
Open Veins of Latin America (Eduardo Galleano)

Currently reading:
Be Here Now
The Tao of Pooh
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (Arundhati Roy).

Don't ask me about movies you'll be wildly disappointed.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

solo adventuring through europe for 6 months!

pitchfork paris! festival hopping in the U.S.

participating in anti-racist activism in Chicago & Cleveland, learning so much
#blacklivesmatter
#abolitionnow

Teach, Learn, Share

I love learning.... Always interested in history, world politics & social issues.
Languages and art! Drumming! Farming & agriculture!

I will teach you anything you want and think I'm capable of. Spanish or English, art, ASL, how to tie your shoes and drive stick shift.
I can shave your head, or bleach your hair and dye it colors (mine is green at the moment).

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am great at doing dishes and laundry (oldest of many children)
I am a decent cook (vegetarian/vegan)
I am mildly entertaining when not exhausted
My partner is a jamaican stoner if that interests you and he's along for the ride ;)

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Spain, United States