Hello, my name is Elizabeth, and I'm new to CouchSurfing~
I grew up in the states, then went to university in Montreal, Canada, and currently, I'm on exchange in Singapore. I chose to study in each of these places because I enjoy living abroad, connecting with people from all backgrounds and life experiences, and finding familiarity wherever I go. Living as an "outsider" in different countries has taught me the importance of patience, inclusivity, and compassion (both from myself and in receiving these from others), but it's also given me the strength to be resilient and independent...even when I might feel out of my comfort zone. This, in turn, has allowed that comfort zone to grow, and I'm eager to visit new places and expand my cultural awareness.

I love the outdoors: swimming, hiking, long walks, horseback-riding, scuba diving...etc. I'm vegetarian, and I'm not a foodie (I know, I know...) 😛 I love quiet days in (I have a huge reading list, and I actually keep up with it), but when I travel I'm usually out doing things... I also like museums, botanical gardens, and seeing historic buildings/places. I try to pick up some of the local dialect(s) wherever I go--even if it's a simple "please" and "thank you"--just to be polite! For me, language-learning bridges many gaps, both communicative and cultural, and I've found I'm able to connect with people when I can listen and appreciate what they say...and when I fumble or miss a word, it's an opportunity to laugh together, and hopefully make a friend out of a linguistic faux-pas!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

In general (long-term): I believe that CS is a perfect platform for someone like myself; a student with limited international connections, who would like to make more, and travel the world sharing in cultural experiences.

Immediately (short-term): I'm living in Singapore and I want to travel around Southeast Asia with my mum. We've both spent time in other countries with a variety of societal systems and standards of living, so we're very flexible about our accommodations, however safety is an important concern for both of us, and many of our friends recommended we use CS after their own positive (and safe) traveling experiences.

Interests

• books
• movies
• board games
• hiking
• scuba diving
• films
• horse riding
• museums
• long walks
• long distance hiking
• hiking in the mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Books I've read and liked recently (hard to pick a favourite): Millenium series (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo etc...), Life of Pi, Born a Crime, and The Great Gatsby

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I was 17, I walked the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (an 800 km journey across northern Spain)...it was incredible and I would recommend it to anyone going through a transition in their life.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Schedule permitting, I can make a fine omelette... and my mum is an amazing cook.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Iceland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Singapore, United States