Update: I am currently back in Hong Kong and hosting surfers again, from June - December 2025!

My name is Aya, I'm born and raised in Hong Kong, particularly on a rural island that I love to bits! I am an easy-going and sociable person, and I am passionate about community-building, the arts, collective liberation and the protection of the land and seas. I studied at United World College in Hong Kong in 2020 and am now studying a major in Human Ecology (with a focus on art and political philosophy) at a tiny college on another island in the US! I love making sincere connections with new people and that's why I'm on Couchsurfing.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To make friends with interesting people all over the world! To me, travelling with reliance on community feels so much more meaningful, ethical and worthwhile!

Interests

• culture
• human rights
• cooking
• music
• philosophy
• sociology
• wwoof
• travel
• art
• nature
• spirituality
• farming
• djing
• language learning
• community building
• community
• environmental justice
• anarchism
• filosofia
• communal living
• samba
• farmer's markets
• collective liberation
• critical theory
• food sovereignty
• agricoltura
• femminismo
• land sovereignty
• genuino clandestino
• autogestione
• communità
• sovranità

Music, Movies, and Books

I love music, especially jazz, funk, soul, bossa nova, electro, and folk - I have been starting to dj recently. I'm super super into Brasilian samba and I play on samba drums with the London School of Samba and at my uni samba group. Let's jam!

I like artistic films that have a lot to interpret, and I'm very open to recommendations! My favourite film at the moment is Portrait of a Lady on Fire, dir. Celine Sciamma.

My favourite book is The Alchemist by Paul Coelho, it's kind of like a Bible for me! I'm also very interested in literature on political philosophy and critical theory.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Arrived in Florence last year with a backpack and no plan, and found exactly who and what I needed to have the most fantastic journey! I learned the importance of connection and comradeship, giving and receiving help. The magic of spontaneity (and synchronicity) never fails to amaze me.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, more on that below.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm have a lot of experience with work-exchange homestays (like WWOOF, Workaway), so I am a respectful guest in new people's homes and am receptive to people's boundaries. I am more than happy to help with cooking, washing dishes, and any other chores around the house. I do find it very helpful for hosts to communicate their expectations openly with me so we're all on the same page and have a positive experience!

I'd love to share some of my languages with hosts, and hope to exchange interesting travel stories, ways of thinking, book recommendations, and, and and,…

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, China, England, Ghana, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Scotland, Taiwan, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Hong Kong, United Kingdom, United States