Irene Chen's Photo

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  • Last login about 1 year ago

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Overview

  • 8 references 5 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English; learning Chinese, Spanish
  • 37, Female
  • Member since 2009
  • Student
  • UC Berkeley
  • No hometown listed
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

ABOUT ME

I graduated from UC Berkeley in Dec 2009 after returning from a study abroad program in Moorea, French Polynesia.
After graduation, I worked as an Executive Team Leader for Target but after realizing that this job wasn't for me, I quit and moved to NYC in June to pursue teaching through an organization called Teach for America! Starting this fall, I will be teaching 7th grade science in the Bronx!

PHILOSOPHY

This is my favorite quote:
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My very first couch surfing experience was in September 2009 with Nathalie from Tahiti, French Polynesia. It was such a great experience - she picked me up from the airport and brought us beautiful leis, took in some of my classmates who didn't have accommodations for the night, took us to the Papeete market, and drove us to the ferry to Moorea. Traveling without her would have just been so difficult! I'm sold on CS!

Interests

Dancing - hip hop and swing dancing
Sports - basketball, volleyball, tennis
Reading for fun
Hiking
Learning new languages
Food/eating - don't let my size fool you. I eat A LOT!
Traveling

  • beauty
  • dancing
  • swing dancing
  • dining
  • gardening
  • reading
  • traveling
  • guitar
  • hiking
  • surfing
  • sports
  • basketball
  • tennis
  • volleyball
  • languages
  • science
  • study abroad

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies - blood diamond, up!, pursuit of happiness, zoolander
Music - Jack Johnson, enya, Jason Mraz, jazz, swing, hip hop, but no country (sorry!)
books - kite runner, thousand splendid suns

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I swam with sting rays and sharks in Moorea!!
Hiking to the top of Mount Ratoi in Moorea was the most difficult hike I've ever done, but the amazing view was worth the 5 hours!

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: swing dancing
Learn: french, guitar

Countries I’ve Visited

Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

French Polynesia, United States

Old School Badges

  • 2 Vouches

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