Hi! I'm John. I'm a software engineer living in Toronto, Canada. I was born and raised in Taiwan, but I started to live abroad to study and work after I started my university life.

I earned my Bachelor of Accountancy, but I've worked in different careers since graduation. I was an auditor in an accounting firm, an expat finance staff in a garment manufacturing company, a warehouse dispatcher in an alcohol distributor, a waiter in restaurants and a convention center, and a Mandarin teacher in an international school. Now, I work as a backend developer/solutions engineer who solves clients' issues and makes customized features.

I'm into staying for a long time in a foreign place and spending time like other local people. For me, it's not always about tourist attractions. I prefer taking some time to sit and observe. Breathe the different air, stand on the different soil, feel the different humidity, and use my whole body to connect with the land. So I spent 6 months in China, 6 months in Germany, 1 year in Australia, 2 years in Thailand, and now I am working on staying for long in Canada.

I'm a normal human being, so I do get distracted by social media, interesting clips, and movies. And I'm still learning to understand myself more, communicate more efficiently in a respectful way, and have a better life.

I like to try many ways of travel. With a plan, Without a plan, With many friends, With only 1-2 friends, Alone... etc. Different kinds of travel bring different feelings and memories. I consider myself an introvert with survival extrovert skills. And I prefer socializing in a small group of people at a time.

After several tries, I figured out I really don't like noisy places, e.g., places with loud music, crowded places where people talk loudly. I enjoy a good talk in our regular volume and the sound of nature.

I believe figuring out our life goals and the next steps is a lifelong journey. With traveling, exploring, chatting, thinking, and caring, we can have some company with similar souls and go further.

I recently stopped drinking (or make it very seldom happen). I really appreciate the sober life and feel much better after not drinking for a while.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I enjoy meeting people and try to explore the world better. I'd like to understand things from different angles and perspectives. Building connections with the local community and sharing my knowledge about the place I live are such beautiful and interesting things for me.

Coffee and tasty food are always better with new friends and good stories. They're even better if you have them in a hidden place in a fascinating country.

Interests

I enjoy walking around a street that I've never been on, looking at the trees and houses, imagining the life in the neighborhood. Thinking and exchanging life experiences about relationships, future, imagination, and education will be great. I also enjoy visiting lovely cafes. Especially those offering pour-over coffee.

• coffee
• marathon
• history
• religion
• food
• nature
• self-improvement

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Intouchables, Walk on water, Up in the air, Das Leben der Anderen
Music: Pop Music, Classical Music, Country Music.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Finished five full marathon events in my life.
Went to the mountain and gorge in China, watched the sunrise on the mountain of Harbin.

Teach, Learn, Share

I taught Mandarin and English before, and now I'm learning French. I can teach both languages.
I'd be more than happy to share all the stories that happened in my journey. (Some might be a bit intense.)

What I Can Share with Hosts

Cute version of calligraphy.
Language.
Taiwanese/Chinese Cooking.
A quiet company and my way of thinking.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand