Oh, you know. I'm an average person wandering about, trying to figure the whole thing out. The factual stuff you need to know. I've lived in Chicago, IL USA for most of my life, with a brief stint in Spain and Czech Republic. My educational background is in the arts. Digital media, cinema and creative writing, mostly. My professional background is different. Most of it has been in software sales. Currently I have had the good fortune of working for one of the best tech companies in Chicago, Jellyvision.

But that's the factual. As for the personal or the emotions? The stuff that really makes a person who they are? Well, I adore getting to know others. I prefer small groups socializing or even better, one on one to really get to know someone. I'm told I listen actively and allow people to open up to me easily. So, I'm told. And will instead show curiosity for who you really are or the things you love to do. I'm told I'm down to earth. I can adapt to new situations easily.

Things that tickle my fancy? Exploring natural environments. And heck, even man-made environments. I love learning about how people unlike me live. And I'm very into literature, cinema, music, cycling, yoga, hiking, and cooking. I'm mostly vegetarian, but make exceptions when visiting people in their homes, or to explore a new culture. And when I travel, I try not to plan too much. Simply being there is enough. And still, I end up doing so much with my time - maybe you can relate.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm traveling long-term from 2018 to 2019. While being hosted occasionally would be great, the main thing I hope to get from couchsurfing is an opportunity to meet people who live in the place I'm traveling in. This could be simply over coffee or spending an afternoon.

I'm on couchsurfing to meet new people and learn from them. Nothing else, I've no ulterior motives. Please do not contact me you wish to accomplish anything other than meeting someone new.

If that's you and we have the opportunity to meet (great!), then I'll ask that we meet in public at a specific time and place.

Interests

• literature
• diy
• cooking
• yoga
• running
• chess
• cycling
• hiking
• cinema
• vegetarian cooking
• soul music
• jazz music
• international cinema
• indian cooking

Music, Movies, and Books

This is the worst question for anybody who loves music, movies and books, no? Welp. Let's give it a go anyway.

Music: I'm all over the place here, but recently I'm addicted to older music. Primarily jazz, soul and Afro-latin sounds. For jazz, I listen a lot of Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Stanley Turrentine, Ben Webster, Ron Carter, Mulatu Astatke, Grover Washinton Jr. Art Blakey, Art Pepper, Wes Montgomery, Chick Correa, Lester Young, etc. Soul: Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Otis Redding, etc. Afro-Carribbean: Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Ruben Blades, Louie Ramirez, Jimmy Bosch, Larry Harlow, etc.

Movies: I love international cinema, indie and art house stuff. Everything else takes a backseat for me. I also love deeply political films or those that (tactifully) approach wartime subjects. Key films for me include: The Last Picture Show, Nashville, Come and See (Soviet), The Battle of Algiers, Z, Badlands, Paths of Glory. Not so heavy films I love are mostly satires, like the Naked Gun series and teen comedies like Can't Hardly Wait.

Books: I mostly read non-fiction and I love the self-help philosophies of Alain de Botton. I dig travel books by Kerouac, William Least Heat-Moon, Paul Theroux. I love reading Rebecca Solnit. Classics from authors like Steinbeck, Flaubert, Proust Virginia Woolf, and Baudelaire. Oh, but I'm currently getting into the fiction of Agatha Christie.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Gosh, hard to answer this question without sounding smug. Um, let's see. One unique thing I've done: In 2016 I biked through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. From Ho Chi Minh city to Bangkok.

Teach, Learn, Share

Things I can help with. Let's start with practical. I can help with yoga basics (I'm no instructor, but I've been practicing consistently for about 10 years). I can teach you to dance salsa. I can teach cycling basics. I'm a certified English teacher. The not so practical? I can provide sales/marketing consultation.

I'd love to learn the following: How to grow things, from crops to flora. I'd love to learn cooking basics, especially those tied to the region I'm in. And I'd love to learn home improvement skills, like carpentry. Oh, and sketching.

What I Can Share with Hosts

It'd be great to cook you a meal in exchange for hosting me. And invite your family and friends.
I could also instruct some basic yoga (warrior poses, vinyasas, and some yummy stretches).

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Czech Republic, United States