I am currently a mathematics PhD student at Northwestern University. I live in Chicago with my wife Kailee. We are high school sweethearts and have been together for 9 years. We have two cats!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I travel a lot for work and I prefer to stay with people when I can as opposed to using hotels.

Interests

My main hobby involves listening to music. I like collecting music to share with other people. Lyrics can be very important to me but I can't usually understand words that are sung. Great melodies are what really drive my taste. I really enjoy listening to a good concept album. Following a story through music has led to some of the most enjoyable moments. I don't go to concerts or festivals much anymore.

I read a lot of Wikipedia and sometimes things that I read come up in conversation. I also try to read the news when I can. I like to play trivia because sometimes I get to put this stuff to good use! I like to think I'm decent at it.

I like to have long form conversations if people are receptive to them. I am open to discussing politics but I am not as informed as I used to be since my PhD has forced me to cut back on reading the news.

I am trying to learn more about Beer, Wine, and Whiskey. I know of a couple of good cocktails (by name only these days) and prefer drinks to be less sweet. I usually drink for the flavor. I typically don't go to bars unless I know I can have conversations without having to yell.

I enjoy good food but I am not the best cook! I can usually follow a recipe but my outcomes have high variance. I love coffee and tea!

My wife and I travel every year. Typically we go places in the US but I have been to a few other countries. My work requires me to travel often.

I am up to go places and I really like hanging in groups. I am not the most athletic person but I am always willing to try new things. I prefer taking walks or hiking.

I used to meditate often and ran a meditation club. I don't meditate as much anymore but I think about it a lot.

I play video games off and on. I have some recommendations but I haven't kept up with the most popular games these days.

I don't watch much TV but I do enjoy watching an episode or two of a good show.

• documentaries
• walking
• trivia
• music
• piano
• travel
• food
• whiskey
• conversation
• beer and wine
• fiction
• cyberpunk

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
Music is my main hobby! I mostly listen to things via Spotify. I have several playlists that I have composed but I really like sharing music. In the past, I've listened to Indie Pop/Rock, Electronica, Rap, Metal, Pop, and Classic Rock.

My music tastes these days revolve around Indie and Electronica. I like tuning in and out to pop music but I find that it changes too fast for me to really keep up!

Movies:
I am not so much into movies as I do not watch enough of them. My wife and I try to keep up with the Oscars every year and we will go see a film that is getting Oscar buzz. I watch a lot of documentaries. My favorite movies are La La Land, The Paper Chase, and V for Vendetta.

Books:
I am a slow reader but I try to read as much as I can! Since I read so much Math and Wikipedia, I tend to prefer fiction if I am reading a book. I will read any short story you throw my way! If you recommend a book, I will put it on a list and get to it eventually!

My favorite books are Flowers For Algernon, Jane Eyre, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I also really enjoy Cyberpunk and Dystopian fiction.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I don't know if it's amazing but I am a self taught amateur pianist. I don't really play for people since the process of playing piano has been so private to me. I definitely need improvement and I don't practice enough but I think I can play a few pieces decently! I took a couple lessons in undergrad but I don't have much formal training.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: I studied computer science in undergrad so I have a fair bit of knowledge about computers. Of course, I know the most about Mathematics but since people tend to find it annoying I only discuss it if asked. I mostly share stories about mathematicians and the thinking process of math but tend to not bring up any mathematics in conversation. I know a lot of facts but I'm not the best at recalling them except when I am playing trivia. I can teach the basics of most of my hobbies.

Learn: I like to ask people about their experiences and perceptions of the world. I gain a lot of insight from these conversations and I always learn a lot. More concretely, I want to learn more about food, alcohol, and movies.

Share: I travel and meet a fair amount of new people (mostly Mathematicians) and can share my experiences. I like to think I am good at telling stories. My background is non-traditional and I have a lot to say about that. I am Hispanic and Native American and grew up on a reservation. My family culture is mostly Mexican-American.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Mostly, I can share stories of my life experiences so far. I spend a fair bit of time thinking about various things and I like to hear other peoples perspective. I can recommend music I find interesting and I like conversation over a good meal.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States