Hi there! I'm Ara. I'm from Indonesia, a beautiful country in Southeast Asia. Currently I'm studying International Communication in Lille, France, as my student exchange program. I keep my life balanced by travelling in between my study period, and Lille is a perfect city for me to travel around Europe. If you haven't been to Lille or Jakarta (my hometown) I would be very keen to tell you about these two wonderful cities!

While travelling, I spend my time reading books (mostly classics) and listening to various genre of music. I take pictures and videos of my solo adventure, simply because I love to capture good moments and memories. I take great interest in environmental issues, along with political and social issues. So don't hesitate to exchange our ideas about them.

Lastly, I expect to meet new people (and soon to be friends 🙂) through this app! Especially solo travellers, because I would love to hear some tips from them (maybe it's you? 😉).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am passionate about traveling and learning other cultures. I love meeting new people and talk about their interests.

Interests

• arts
• culture
• writing
• photography
• music festivals
• human rights
• womens rights
• partying
• rock music
• hiking
• history
• volunteering
• beaches
• parks
• mountains
• travelling
• life
• law of attraction
• the universe
• psychedelics
• diversity
• hidden gems

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to many music genres as I like to explore them. E.g. Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Mac Demarco, Daft Punk, etc. I read classic literature and fictions but right now I'm loving "A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara. I love movies too especially with unexpected endings.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I volunteered as a teacher in a rural area in Indonesia and it amazed me how the situation there was so different and it changed my perspective about life.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can teach you some Indonesian language and a little bit of French. I can also introduce you to Indonesian food ;) Oh! And I know some self defense that will be so useful for travellers :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Indonesia