**PLEASE READ: I will be travelling from January 23rd through February 20th and may not be checking messages very often. Also note, I will be outside of China during most of that time. I'll do my best to reply to messages, but it may not be right away. Happy travels! :) **
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Hi everyone! I'm an American living in China who has recently developed a great love for travelling. One of my greatest loves about travelling is making connections with people from all over the world. It has greatly enriched my life and has opened up my mind and heart more than I could have ever imagined when I began.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I never thought about couch surfing before I moved to China, but I was first exposed to it during my travels in 2013. I traveled with friends and we stayed with a couple who were CS hosts. It was a great experience and it really changed my ideas about couch surfing.

I have been involved with the local couch surfing group here in Qingdao since approx. September of 2014. I have not hosted but I've helped show some people around town and have enjoyed meeting people from different parts of the world.

Interests

Traveling, photography, art, live music, history, dance, hiking, free climbing, and long conversations over coffee. I like going out sometimes, but am not a big drinker.

• arts
• culture
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• coffee
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• live music
• hiking
• surfing
• rock climbing
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

For music, I like a little bit of everything. It really depends on my mood and the situation. I adore piano, violin and guitar, and love listening to live music. I don't watch movies very often but love watching documentaries. Outside of that, my taste in movies varies, but I really enjoy tragic movies like Requiem for a Dream. Anything thought provoking. I find movies involving memories and dreams especially interesting, like Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. I'm a "glass half full" person with a very positive attitude, but think it's important to explore the darker things in life because they are real and play huge roles in developing our characters.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Moved to China after living in Sacramento, CA, USA my entire life! :)

Teach, Learn, Share

If you are a Westerner planning a trip to China, I would highly recommend connecting with people who live here or have spent a great deal of time here.

China is an amazing place to travel in, but you have to come here with an open mind. Even though many cities are modernizing at a rapid rate, the culture is very, VERY different and misunderstandings are common (even if you know some of the language). There are much different attitudes toward certain things that Westerners are accustomed to, so sometimes patience is a necessary skill.

Overall though, as a traveler, if you are open-minded, there are amazing sites to see and the people are usually very friendly. It has definitely been a unique learning experience living and travelling in China.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good conversation and I'd be happy to pitch in for food, etc. I love getting to know people, learning about different cultures, and sharing stories.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United States