CURRENT MISSION

I recently moved to Chicago for a six-month editing position, and I'm on a mission to learn how to sit still for a while and connect with such an awesome city. ...while also trying to get a freelancing career off the ground so I never *have* to sit still if I don't want to.

ABOUT ME

I am constantly adrift, looking to challenge and change myself and looking for ways to improve the world in some way.

PHILOSOPHY

Stories can connect the world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Attending events. Occasionally surfing. Someday, I will have a non-dorm apartment that allows me to have guests, and the hosting shall commence!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've surfed a couple of times in the past for a couple days at a time, but I tend to stay in cities for weeks or months rather than days, so I find that work exchanges suit my travel style better. In Chiang Mai, I discovered CS events and had the greatest time with the community there! Travelers are my "people," so whether I'm on the road or just living in a new city, CS is a fantastic way to make friends.

Interests

It's a little redundant to state "traveling" on here, I suppose...

Education and media, in that I am perpetually interested in learning, whether it's from books, people, places, or experiences. Down the line, I'd like to become a professor and/or professional writer, because a life spent in the exchange of knowledge and stories sounds a hell of a lot more bearable than one fixated on profit margins and 9-to-5s.

Writing. Writing anything. Everything? Journals or web series or the perpetually to-be-revised novel or twelve filling up my hard drive.

Learning new things. I've picked up on a fair bit of guitar and a smidgen of cooking from nights spent in hostel lounges and CS homes. I would love to learn to sail, surf, and ride horses, among plenty of other things. I am happiest outside my cliched "comfort zone."

• writing
• books
• education
• cooking
• movies
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• sailing
• communications
• teaching
• freelancing

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm horrendous at choosing 'favorite' anythings, and there's very little cohesiveness to what I do and don't like. I love to be introduced to new things, and my taste constantly changes with new introductions and discoveries.

Books - I'm always reading something. Currently, it's "The Holy Barbarians" by Lawrence Lipton. Last read "This Side of Paradise" by Fitzgerald and "Slaughterhouse 5" by Vonnegut. I grew up on a lot of YA fantasy/sci fi stuff and still have a major soft spot for some of it (Harry Potter, Hunger Games, etc), and when in doubt I default to Austen or Shakespeare. However, in these years of post-university freedom, I'm really enjoying branching out and tackling the endless "to be read" list I've accumulated.

Movies - can't get enough of Linklater's "Before" trilogy. I've begun working my way through the works of Tarantino and Wes Anderson. Have a slight Bollywood guilty pleasure.

TV -I've discovered that I really love the character development potential of TV over cinema, so I tend to watch it a lot more. I currently keep up with Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, and someday I'm going to find time to tackle Breaking Bad and The Wire. I also like light, witty stuff like Gilmore Girls or Kimmy Schmidt and your nerd cult classics like Firefly, Buffy, Freaks and Geeks

Music - I tend to like songs that are easy for me to learn on the guitar, especially if the lyrics resonate with me -- acoustic folksy types like Joni Mitchell, Gabrielle Aplin, the Head and the Heart, First Aid Kit. Currently on a rock kick, with a lot of Bowie, the Kinks, The Clash, the Who. A handful of artists you might actually occasionally see on the charts -- Chet Faker, Halsey, Muse...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Was a delegate at the inaugural United Nations Novus summit on technological innovation and international development.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach basic video editing, and some of the more obnoxious nuances of the English language.

I am on a constant search for good music and movies-I grew up in a house with very little variety, so I am in need of a thorough education!

Also, as mentioned above, I want to learn to do...basically anything. Bartend? Surf? Whittle? Underwater basket weaving? Sure, why not!

What I Can Share with Hosts

In the words of Jack Kerouac, "I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion." However, I find that this confusion makes me an enthusiastic listener to all and can lead to some great conversations and adventures.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Philippines, Romania, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States