CURRENT MISSION

Setting up opportunities for those around me to have awesome experiences.

ABOUT ME

"I may not have gone where I thought I'd go, but I have ended up right where I hoped I'd be."

After a bit of wandering in my 20's, I planted roots in Chicago.

I'm currently working on a project to try and eat at restaurants of every countey i can in the city. Current count is about 40n with plenty to go. Smallest country for which I've found a dedicated restaurant: Trinidad.

I lived abroad for a year after studying abroad in Bologna, returned to the US to tutor youth with learning challenges, moved back to Italy to teach English... got a job teaching soccer (yes, I know, an American teaching Italians calcio... but in full disclosure they were 1-5th graders).

And now I've lived in Chicago almost as long as anywhere else. I moved here to help out with and eventually run an after school program which managed to combine my love for creative writing, soccer, and community service. And for 6 years I spent my spare time planning a summer festival where anybody can volunteer to share their skills with others.

I spent some time supporting school principals with understanding data trends in their school, and now work as a data specialist for a company that screen prints and runs the ecom for bands.

I'm am passionately and omnivorously curious about everything which crosses my path and my mind. I enjoy sports, movies, board games, D&D, podcasts, books on tape, meet ups, volunteering, traveling and pride myself in asking questions.

PHILOSOPHY

Anywhere you go, you shall find precisely the type of experiences and people you are expecting to find. They may not take the form you expect, or who you expect. If you go searching expectantly for joy, and learning, and the good in people. You might, of course, find it in the last place you look... but that's just because you know not to stop searching till then.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

While living in Europe I was both a frequent surfer and host.

Since moving to Chicago, I've hosted a few times, but have mostly participated through tours, though happy hour CS meetups, and through the friendships that have blossomed through participation.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've hosted in Italy and America and truly love the re-seeing that happens when you get to show someone new the places you see every day. I surfed around Europe during the last world cup and watched the 'beatiful game' in 9 countries, in 10 languages, and with remarkable people.

I've given people tours of the piazzas and gelateria's of Bologna, and of the neighborhoods of Chicago, and been hosted for barbecues in Prague and coffee houses in Vienna.

Interests

I am pretty much interested in everything... even if I don't know it yet.

But those interests I have come across so far include
writing,
reading (I generally have about 4 books going at a time, ask me what my latest selection is),
soccer (football, calcio... whatever you call it it binds the world together),
walking in the rain,
learning
etymology (word origins) and language,
ultimate frisbee
swing dance (and learning any dance)
writing,
board games and D&D
strolling,
movies,
learning new film,
turning down alleys I've never seen
volunteering
and I recently discovered Escape Rooms, and I love them.

Music, Movies, and Books

Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, Einstein's dreams, the complete works of dr. seuss, Perks of being a wallflower, Zen and the art of Motorcycle maitenance, Ben Folds Five, Swing music, Eels, Shawshank Redemption, La Vita e Bella, e troppo piu

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent two weeks building a hospital in Mexico, I slid in the rain through every piazza in Bologna, and have freestyle walked in 11 countries so far. I busted my chin doing the worm in Miami and I broke my phone dancing in a fountain in Barcelona...had my wallet subsequently stolen.. and flew into Lisbon only my passport.. 2 euros... and the name of a hostel that I hoped would be understanding.

However, people generally seem most interested in the month that I spent preparing and serving bear food in a national park in Minnesota.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach Swing dancing, juggling, sliding on rain soaked piazzas, English, origami and Excel.

I'd love to learn: Spanish, Arabic, Cooking, dances, varied perspectives: "The one eyed man sees flat, it takes two eyes, spaced slightly apart to see the world as it really is."

I share laughs, thoughts, ideas, and optimism.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States

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