🌈 Queer and trans-friendly!

Hi! I am Jia Wei. Please don't call me "Jia" as East Asians have double first names - for example hyphenated like Zhi-Hui, joined like Xiaotong and spaced out like Jia Wei - little tidbit for anyone!

I am a community organiser and mobiliser, as well as seasoned Couchsurfer and have been couchsurfing since 2016. Today, I have hosted many and have been hosted by many as well. I have many friendships deeply founded upon by the shared experience of Couchsurfing and I have so many stories to last many, many, campfires on all the people who have shaped me and lighted so many paths in my life just by meeting them. I am forever grateful for all the surfers and hosts I've met, they have deeply etched and touched my soul in so many ways - we'll have a conversation about this if and when we meet :)

I am Malaysian and currently living in Cardiff, Wales. I have a huge passion in learning absolutely everything, and especially love stargazing and learning languages. I love, LOVE people as well and can strike up a conversation with anyone of all ages (that's my superpower) and I have a huge space in my heart for humanity, and calling humanity out if needed. Outside of my job I am a fierce activist in intersectionality - from decolonisation, indigenous and climate justice, dismantling systems of oppression - come to get to know me with an open soul!

One thing I need you to respect is my identity and my pronouns - I am a transmasc going by he/they pronouns - am very happy if you ask me what this is and I will happily educate you with an open heart! Please do not request for my couch if you are transphobic, homophobic, xenophobic, racist, islamophobic, zionist, or fascist. Also, I am pro-Palestinian and if you don't share the same sentiment we cannot co-exist together 🍉🍉🍉

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I was at an open house celebration for Eid, and my aunty was telling me how her daughter brings random strangers into their home for Couchsurfing, and I was curious! Decided to try it for Japan, and I was immensely hooked. I first went onto Couchsurfing to save a lot of money travelling as the Malaysian currency is really low in value, but through that, I found out it is SO much better than hostels and Airbnbs.

The couchsurfing spirit is peak golden, and everyone I've experienced it with shares it wholeheartedly. The community shares what they have genuinely without asking for anything back, and every host is a unique personality and an abundance of brilliant experience like no other. I learnt so much for them and I experienced cultures and environments as how a local would. It's such a deep honour to be experiencing a place in a local's eyes and it's absolutely beautiful. I would like to share it with every person I meet everywhere I go :)

Interests

I'm a jack of all trades, master of none! I'm OBSESSED with languages so please, teach me your language! I'm also a very curious individual, so if you have a very niche skill, teach it to me please as well!

Movement, movement, movement!! I am a parkour coach :) The moment you meet me, you'll see that I hate sitting down ;D I prefer standing up than sitting down, I could move for hours! I have undiagnosed AD(H)D and I'm proud of my hyperactivity! I say "proudly" because, in case if your cat was up on a tree and is afraid to come down, or you accidentally hit your ball onto the roof - no worries! I could definitely get it down ;)

I enjoy just Being. I am so immersed in the present, that the past and future hardly affects me, which I am very proud of ^^ Therefore, if I am spending time with you, I will be wholeheartedly spending time with you. I would listen to the trees, the waves, get immersed in a full blown waterfight, see how the birds fly, learn your culture and your language wholeheartedly, and enjoy every single small moment any place :)

• languages
• psychology
• cultures
• life
• parkour
• community
• movement
• movement culture
• playgrounds
• motivation
• earth
• helping others
• indigenous culture
• all the little things

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I listen to very very different genres depending on my music "menu" - from game soundtracks to movie soundtracks, from Irish folk music to country, from '80s to classic rock, from belting out to musicals to cheesy Disney Channel anthems, from synthwave to KPOP, from funk to bebop jazz - give me something new! ;)

((Disclaimer: Due to my hyperactivity I find it hard to sit down and watch movies / read books unless I'm doing it with people!))

Movies (or watchable media / series): I'm a Disnerd, so you can yap about Disney/Pixar all you want with me. Also a huge Pokemon fan, so if you like Pokemon I'm your guy! Otherwise, anything that really touches the soul / any documentaries about space and the universe and wildlife and ancient history. I'm a big sappy crier - I've cried 11 times in a movie once xD Oh, I also like heist films, and anything to do with an unlikely hero, form the ground up. Very cool. LASTLY, I am a sucker for anything about food and culture around the world. That's the kind of thing I would watch while I eat.

Books: I like to learn about indigenous wisdom, ancient history, young adult fantasy novels (love Septimus Heap), space and the universe, wildlife. Big fan of solarpunk. Cookbooks. Books on culture and people and places.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hmm...
- Trying to climb up the 8th floor of a Japanese shopping mall and then jumping down using the parkour method when we heard the security guard coming
- Doing a social experiment by randomly pointing at the sky in Korea, and people actually looking
- Went on my solo Mexico trip (40 day trip) with absolutely no plans beforehand
- Bagpacked in Rome. Literally. Just a schoolbag for 7 nights.
- Survived 2 nights in Iceland with 2 British Pounds.
- Watched a movie in every cinema in Cardiff for free, legally

There are so many weird random occasions ;P

Teach, Learn, Share

As I am fluent in Chinese, English and Malay, and a little bit Japanese, feel free to ask me if you'd like to learn any of these languages! :D

Also, if you are stiff in any areas, I could give you some advice (based on my movement journey) on mobility, beginner parkour, doing hand puppets (heh! something I discovered when I was 10!), making music, playing the piano, guitar, ukulele etc.

My love for Malaysian culture! I can cook for you, share our beautiful diversity and how we are a cultural melting pot and why I absolutely love home :)

I would LOVE to learn anything - if you have any special talents, feel free to teach me! I am very curious in learning everything!

Finally, I am a huge community organiser and mobiliser, so go to / run many events! If you are interested, you might just be able to tag along as well if it's all good :D

What I Can Share with Hosts

You can use my washing machine, dryer, fridge, freezer, stove to make your own meals. Also the best places to visit around Cardiff and some Welsh recommendations while you stay in Wales!

If I am free, I might be able to drive you around! But this is once in a blue moon, but still worth the ask :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, China, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Malaysia, United Kingdom