CURRENT MISSION

to learn and experience as much as possible

ABOUT ME

I didn't really start traveling until after my exchange in China during my 3rd year of high school. I go to university in London, UK because I wanted to leave the USA, meet new people, hear new ideas, and just to have a change of pace. I have always liked learning, especially when it comes to different languages or cultures. I like learning about a place before I visit, especially a bit of the language. I like planning out my day but I am also very flexible. I just want to have a fulfilling experience wherever I go whether that's just having a good conversation with someone or going to a hotspring in the middle of the countryside. I like laughing, being silly, and joking around. Also, I love coffee!

PHILOSOPHY

What goes around comes around. I live to explore, learn, experience, make friends, and understand the world better. Life is exciting and I want to make the most of it!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

If you're ever in Beijing it'd be great to meet up for coffee or a meal. I've been in Beijing for almost six months already and I'd like to think that I know the city fairly well. It can sometimes be difficult traveling in China because of the language barrier but that's where I come in!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I am completely new to couchsurfing, but a lot of my other traverls were home-stays. I am looking forward to having some new experiences!

Interests

I have been drawing things since I was little. I don't think I am very good at it but I keep a sketchbook with me. Art is one of my interests, I find contemporary art appealing but I like classic stuff too.I got into photography during my 3rd year of high school while I was studying abroad in China. I have taken to using only film because I find the colors more interesting, I feel like there's more room for creativity (since I don't know how to use photoshop), but I especially like the added surprise of looking at photos after they've been developed.I study linguistics so I am interested in almost all types of languages and dialects. I especially like Asian langauges.Trying new foods is fun, as well as Karaoke, imitating different accents, and dancing too!You can see what I photograph here, on my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artyflipy

• arts
• contemporary art
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• coffee
• traveling
• drawing
• karaoke
• hiking
• dialects
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Wild Swans; Nothing To Envy; The Unfolding of Language; Alice in Wonderland; Biting the Wax Tadpole: Confessions of a Language Fanatic; Geisha, A Life; The God of Small Things; Go Ask Alice; The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night Time; The Private Life of Chairman Mao; To Live; The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency; The Agony and The Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo.Music:Fleetwood Mac; Supertramp; The Supremes; No Doubt; Deng Lijun; Madonna.Movies: Bombay Beach, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Farewell My Concubine, Grease, Forever Enthralled,Slumdog Millionaire; Buddha Mountain; Sunset Boulevard; The Last Train Home; Unknown Pleasures; Virgin Suicides; Lost in Translation; Marie Antoinette

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Being lost in the Mojave dessert without food or water at night during a failed boyscout day-hike. We had to scramble down huge boulders and hop over sheer drops in order to find our way down through this canyon filled with huge rocks. Our hike leader got us lost. It was scary and exciting, but the best part was finally finding a deserted desert road at 2AM after hiking for more than 14 hours and being able to look up at the night sky and know we'd make it home alright.

Teach, Learn, Share

I like learning from others!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United Kingdom, United States