****Please read the details about my Home, and House Rules****
before requesting:

https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/stevilchemsit/couch

Keywords: Scientist, Vegan, Martial Artist, Environmentalist, Humanitarian, Urban Bicyclist, 80's goth are words that typically describe or are attributed to me. I'm very liberal and tend to hang out in Goth/Industrial/Alternative subcultures.

I love to explore, examine, investigate the world and find my place within it. I try to bring the best of what I find into my daily life.

I believe there are pieces of my soul scattered about the world. When I travel I find them in the strangest and most humbling of experiences.

Right Now, I work Full-time as a Research Scientist in a small Pharmaceutical Division of a large Medical Device/Technology Company. Part-time I teach graduate courses in Natural Products (Medicinal Plants) and Molecular Structure Elucidation.

However, I am rethinking my career, because I believe we have plenty of technology, but not enough compassion. I'd like to shift gears and work on Apps that allow people to connect with each other and share resources peer to peer (and not through a corporation), find ways to lower the barrier of fear that prevents us from connecting and sharing.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

During my own travels, people have been so kind to me over the years. I have been hosting friends and "friends of friends" for many years now. One of my friends who recently visited suggested I open up my household to the couchsurfing community, so I'm experimenting with her suggestion. I've met a lot of wonderful people in my travels, so maybe I might be able to meet more when they come to my city. :)

I also believe in supporting a global "goodwill" economy of resource sharing, kindness, and compassion.

Interests

I will update this later. There's too much!

A short list: science, technology, veganism, feminism, environmentalism, travel (of course), bicycling, electronics, locomotion, trains, public transporation, permaculture, vertical farming, in vitro food production, live music, martial arts, yoga, endurance running, connectivity, resource sharing, battery technology, nutrition, biochemistry, social physics, science fiction, space exploration.

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Goth, Industrial, Shoegaze, EBM, sad, sappy, spanish love ballads, ethereal/world, Darkwave, Classic Rock, 80's, Gothic Metal, Female Fronted Folk, Horror Punk, 4AD Bands, and Post Punk. New Model Army is probably my favorite band of all time. I will listen to pretty much anything heavily guitar laden.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Bicycled across Europe on my own. Over 4000km, 10 countries in 62 days. Just me, a bicycle, 20kg of gear and a lot of fruit.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've lived in Chicago my whole life, except for the years I was in Graduate school and know my hometown very well. I'm pretty good at answering general science, and technology questions, along with vegan nutrition questions.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good Conversations, laughter, stories from the world. :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States