**I would love to meet new people and show you parts of LA or grab food. Feel free to message me to meet up, but I cannot guarantee that I will be able to, so sorry in advance if I am not able to meet up.

I graduated in December 2014 and took the opportunity of graduating a semester early to backpack solo through Europe for 66 days. I am a very easy going and laid back person that enjoys just going along with the flow of life. At the core, I am an introvert, but couchsurfing confirmed that I can be really open and talkative when I already know I have things in common with others, especially the love of travel. I love meeting new people while traveling and exchanging stories. I always look for the positives in life and constantly have a smile on my face.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I heard of couchsurfing prior to backpacking through Europe, and felt that it would be such a great way to meet and connect with locals while I backpacked solo through Europe. My first couchsurfing experience was beyond amazing and only confirmed my thoughts, making me want to use this platform to meet people who share the same love for traveling. I met so many wonderful people with open hearts and great stories through couchsurfing, and I hope to continue and keep the experiences coming both through surfing and hosting (in the near future when I don't live at home) as well as meeting people when I can.

Interests

My interests include sports (soccer, baseball, surfing, snowboarding), baking, reading, theatre, movie or tv marathons, and traveling. I also love exploring without a plan and getting lost in side streets and finding little gems. Being in Europe, I've really taken a liking to going to cozy cafes and spending time there.

• animals
• dining
• chocolate
• baking
• reading
• tv
• traveling
• socializing
• hiking
• backpacking
• surfing
• snowboarding
• sports
• baseball
• soccer
• paragliding
• swimming

Music, Movies, and Books

I don't have a specific genre of music that I stick to and love, but generally, I love acoustic/singer-songwriter music, country music, and indie/alternative music. Some of my favorite artists include Ed Sheeran, Vance Joy, Hozier, Haim, etc.

My favorite movie is The Sandlot, with The Social Network being a close second.

Some of my favorite books include the Harry Potter series, A Song of Ice and Fire series, and The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

There are two things that stick with me, particularly from my backpacking trip through Europe. One being going paragliding in Switzerland, and the other being hiking up to Preikestolen in Norway. Both offered such amazing views of their respective countries and really made me fall in love with nature and all that the world has to offer.

And one more! I got to swim with galapagos sharks in Hawaii, cage free, which was a really amazing experience! I would do it again in a heart beat, and you truly get to appreciate these misunderstood animals.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: I can teach Japanese if you're interested! I am a bit rusty and not as good as my mom would like for me to be, but I was born in Japan and can hold a conversation in Japanese.

Learn: Another language! I took French in high school for 3 years, but sadly didn't pay attention enough to remember anything. I regret it a lot today, and traveling fueled my desire to learn a language or two. I really want to learn German, so I think I am going to start learning it online and if you can lend a hand then that would be amazing!

Share: I can share my stories of traveling, especially backpacking through Europe, and my optimism.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share with you a good nutella filled chocolate chip cookies recipe. :) And if there's time, even make it for you.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Japan, United States