Hi! I am Eojin(I also go by Mikaela, if it’s hard to pronounce) and I am a full-time translator who specializes in media localization. I studied Illustration in university, however, am currently on leave and am enjoying the wonders of linguistics instead. As you can guess from the prior text, my passion lies in the arts; art, music, literature, cinema, games, architecture, fashion... the list goes on and on. The italian phrase "Viva dolce" is pretty much my mantra, and I live to find and treasure the beauty in everything surrounding me.

I am mostly quiet but attentive, enjoy being somewhere secluded or close to nature, and am deeply in love with animals. (Trust me, I bawl at almost every animal I come across.) I value courtesy, open-mindedness, and like to keep things simple and natural.

Although I am used to what people call the "loner lifestyle", I enjoy deep conversations and spending quality time with people. Meeting, getting to know others and the world they live in are part of my strongest inspirations!

For hobbies, I enjoy long walks, longboarding, short runs, playing-or trying to learn-chess, playing the piano or bass, singing, binging standup comedy or unsettling movies(yes), and cooking.

I do not smoke but vape outside(only) occasionally. I am an omnivore on a keto diet, however am comfortable and flexible with other diets as well. (I have tried and enjoyed most lifestyles from vegan to carnivore, but am omnivore by default because it suits my nutritional needs best.)

I work from home and am quite obsessed with my job, so going out during daytime isn't really ideal for me during weekdays. (Can't help it, translating is not only nerdy and fun, but it also pays my bills :P) However, I do like to spoil myself with some occasional fancy drinks and love dressing up during weekends. Although I don't drink a lot anymore due to health reasons, I'm happy to go barhopping or chill in nice places with whiskey/cognac/wine/sake/cocktail lovers :) (I don't drink soju much, sorry!) For the non-drinkers, we can go anywhere from nearby parks, beaches, cinemas, cafes, restaurants, or just get comfy at home!

*If we're both around Seoul, I can be your bar guide around Mapo district. I know most of the (quiet and a bit pricey) bars around the area.
**I hate (it's a strong word, yes) drinking irresponsibly and don't enjoy nightlife much. Party animals won't be a good fit with me.

Anything else you’d like to know about me, ask away!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I used couchsurfing some time ago in high school, which was a wonderful experience; this community helped me develop a kind and loving attitude towards everyone who I encounter. Experiencing such hospitality and will to bond from strangers at a young age affected my view on life quite heavily!

While I used to accept guests, I’m not settled enough to host at the moment (a lot of moving around short term), and hope to be available someday. In the mean time, I wish to share experiences, happiness, values, and ideas with the great people that are on this site. It amazes me how people can be so different and still have some beautiful common grounds.

Interests

Curling up and watching movies on a gloomy day, doodling, meeting new people, reading, cooking, playing games, browsing art/videos on the internet, beauty, observing people, swimming, taking a stroll to the park, going to the beach

• arts
• cooking
• movies
• video games
• reading
• music
• beaches
• trying new foods

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC
Some of my fav artists include Bach, Rachmaninov, Deftones, NBT, Oneokrock, RHCP, Maneskin, Radiohead, Thornapple, Billie Holiday, Doris Day, Julie London, Pretty much all cool jazz musicians, Eminem, Daft Punk, Balming Tiger, Doja Cat, Childish Gambino, Eve, Teshima Aoi, Thundercat, Steve Lacy etc. I also love listening to various sound tracks. Cowboy Bebop, Memories of Murder, Made in Abyss, most albums written by Hans Zimmer, Hisaishi Joe, Akira Senju, Ryuichi Sakamoto etc.

MOVIES
Immediate favorites: Birdman, Detachment, Hereditary, Princess Mononke, Maison de Himiko, American Psycho, In the Mood for Love, We Need to Talk about Kevin, Paprika, A Clockwork Orange, Most films made by Chanwook Park, Lily Chou Chou, Asteroid City, Most films made by Hitchcock, Wonderful Life etc.

BOOKS
A fan of German/Russian/English/American/ancient Greek literature and theatre. Dostoevsky, Hesse, Goethe, and Sophocles are my fav gentlemen. I occasionally like to read random biology articles as well.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Bleaching/dyeing my hair in every color possible by myself, then still maintaining a somewhat decent condition :p

Teach, Learn, Share

TEACH
Korean, English... what else? A quick beginner-intermediate level piano lesson, perhaps? If you have any instruments lying around, we could jam!

LEARN
Basically everything-I will probably die from too much curiosity someday ;P

SHARE
A part of myself; the things that keep me going, and the love I have received from and am willing to share with others!

What I Can Share with Hosts

My spotify playlists, Korean culture, and hopefully quality time. If you're interested in anything in the creative arts, we'll probably spend a lot of time geeking out. :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, South Korea