I am extremely open-minded and do my best to become the best version of myself every day. Smiling is a big part of who I am! I am very passionate about meeting new people and learning about their culture/philosophy on life. I love long, meaningful conversations and hearing the wonders people learn about themselves by stepping out of their comfort zones. I embody kindness, friendship, and curiosity. I am also a newfound bookworm and am always looking for great books to read (Goodreads info below). While traveling, I enjoy getting out into nature to hike and explore. I also really enjoy the architecture and feels of big cities. In other words, I love traveling anywhere! I generally decline "copy and paste" requests. I'm all for sharing my apartment but I want to ensure I am hosting people who: - are considerate enough to take the time to read my profile/write a thoughtful request - are looking for something more than just a free place to sleep. That being said, our apartment is your apartment. Please feel free to use all facilities whenever you please. My roommate and I have plenty of pots and pans for you to cook with. We also have pillows and blankets. I have couchsurfed in: - Switzerland - Panama - Cuba - Norway - Denmark - Sweden - Finland I have hosted couchsurfers from: - Russia - Australia - Switzerland - United States - Germany - Canada - Poland - Holland - Colombia - Spain - Nicaragua
Expect nothing; appreciate everything!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The Couchsurfing community is so welcoming and friendly. I absolutely love the folks I meet on here. I want to give travelers a chance to explore Chicago and not have to worry about spending money on accommodation. I also want to pay it forward to the travelers who have helped me in the past.

Interests

- Traveling
- Reading
- Learning about the experiences of others
- Surrounding myself with positive, uplifting people

• vegan
• walking
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• hiking
• sports
• healthy living
• spontaneity
• freeganism

Music, Movies, and Books

Books (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/40180142-sam-viola):

- 1984 (by George Orwell) - The Alchemist (by Paulo Coelho) - American Gods (by Neil Gaiman) - Animal Farm (by George Orwell) - Between the World and Me (by Ta-Nehisi Coates) - The China Study (by T. Colin Campbell) - The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom (by Jonathan Haidt) - Harry Potter x7 (J.K. Rowling) - The Hate U Give (by Angie Thomas) - Ishmael (by Daniel Quinn) - The Kite Runner (by Khaled Hosseini) - Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help (by Jackson Katz) - Man's Search for Meaning (by Viktor Frankl) - Milk and Honey (by Rupi Kaur) - My Ishmael (by Daniel Quinn) - The New Jim Crow (by Michelle Alexander) - Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America (by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva) - Salt. (by Nayyirah Waheed) - Sapiens (by Yuval Noah Harari) - Siddharta (by Herman Hesse) - Small Great Things (by Jodi Picoult) - Story of B (by Daniel Quinn) - We Should All Be Feminists (by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) - The Will to Change (by Bell Hooks) - You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment (by Thich Nhat Hanh)

Movies/Shows:

- Black Mirror - Breaking Bad - Godfather - Good Will Hunting - Life is Beautiful - The Pianist - The Prestige - Schindler's List - The Shawshank Redemption - Tough Guise

Music:

- Queen - Lorde - Khalid - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Lord Huron - Bruno Mars - Stromae - Tame Impala - ABBA - The Beatles - U2 - Kendrick Lamar - J Cole

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

- Walked the Camino de Santiago

Teach, Learn, Share

Compassion, culture, and a fun-loving attitude!

What I Can Share with Hosts

A comfortable couch to sleep on, great conversation, and plenty of laughs!

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Laos, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Ireland, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States