CURRENT MISSION

Doing what makes me happy -- exploring freely and respectfully, laughing heartily, dancing carelessly, eating like a bottomless pit, being inspired by amazing people, and from all of that, learning about life and what it means to be human

PHILOSOPHY

Doing what makes you happy involves getting out of your comfort zone and embracing boundlessness, because that's when you make new discoveries about the world, about yourself, and about your place in the world. When that happens, you realize how connected you are to everything and everyone. And that keeps me moving, bouncing from city to city, country to country, feeling out each of my new surroundings and carrying some of each place to the next. Building a tower of my personal history if you will, to be erected wherever I end up forever. If I end up in one place forever.

WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING

Originally from Boston, I now live in Beijing with my family. I have been running an educational NGO for the last 2.5 years, but for a living wage, I also work at a bed and breakfast in rural Beijing, and on the side I bartend/serve at a Spanish tapas bar in the old part of town.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted only once while living in New York City. Three really cool, really giggly Spanish girls! One of them found me on LinkedIn YEAAARS later.

I am currently not hosting guests because I do not live in my own place. Soon!

Interests

food, education, visiting new places, taking after-dinner strolls

• dancing
• education
• dining
• breakfast
• running
• traveling
• teaching
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies that I thought worthy to own: Pretty in Pink, Say Anything, About a Boy, Millions, and of course, Love Actually for the holidays

Music I've been listening to for years: Rilo Kiley, The Cure, Soul! The Very Best of Motown (album), Elvis, Johnny Cash, "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" - CC, Band of Horses, Cat Power, "Lost in the Supermarket" and "Train in Vain" - The Clash

Books that moved me and still think of often: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Siddhartha, The Little Prince, The Glass Castle, The Wild Things...

(As I'm writing this list, I am realizing that the common theme among these books are coming-of-age stories, and within each of the characters' processes of growing up is making discoveries--good and bad--about oneself and about life in general. These books probably made a lasting impression on me because the stories resonate with what I'm searching for. What I'm elaborating here is not news, but it is what I believe to be true for all people who have read these books. As well, in all of these stories the protagonist are children (except for Siddhartha)--I suppose in many ways I am still a child, or perhaps I am clinging onto what childhood remains.)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Rented a car and drove through the desert for 4 days sleeping under Moroccan stars every night.

Teach, Learn, Share

This is what I love most about traveling: learning from and sharing with others!

Possible sharing points from my end: what it's like to live in China, NGO startup, grad school, my own travel stories, and I can crack a few jokes here and there

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm not quite sure what this question entails, but one could say that I am courteous and well-humored, thus making an agreeable guest :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Spain, United States