CURRENT MISSION

Learn how to grow rice and vegetables sustainably, improving the health of crops and ecology alike. Learn to speak Taiwanese. Be a productive, helpful, and compassionate member of my community. Learn the cello. Learn traditional Taiwanese food processing and cooking from my mentor.

ABOUT ME

I grew up in America, but now live in rural Taiwan where I am a member of a "friendly farming" community. I am still completing an MA in Teaching Chinese as a second language while starting my new life as a farmer. I am fluent in Chinese, native in English, and working on learning Taiwanese. I work as a freelance translator, and collaborate on academic research projects.

I love the be outside, learn about plants and animals, work with my hands, and feel the cool mud of a rice paddy between my toes. I've lately been helping out with bird surveys in our village and I love to get to know the species that make homes out of our rice paddies and vegetable gardens.

I love to meet new people and share stories about the world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

While I'm mostly settled in Taiwan, I do love to travel and I prefer to do so as economically and sustainably as possible. For me experiences are far more important than money, learning is more important than luxury. I'd much rather sleep on a floor and meet a fascinating person and learn about the world, than have a private room in a fancy hotel where I don't get exposed to new things.

Interests

Farming, hiking, foraging, wood work, music (guitar, ukulele, learning cello, singing), ecology, languages, cooking.

• animals
• singing
• cooking
• baking
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• ecology
• freelancing
• languages
• farming

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
The Wayfinders
Guns, Germs, and Steel
The Poisonwood Bible
Stranger in a Strange Land
Green Collar Economy
Dune
Harry Potter
The Omnivore's Dilemma
The Golden Compass

Music:
Andy McKee
Abigail Washburn
Eva Cassidy
Regina Spektor
Iron & Wine
黃瑋傑
以莉高露
舒米恩

Movies:
Boyhood
Carole
太陽的孩子(Wawa no Cidal)
Good Will Hunting
Forrest Gump

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A few years ago, I traveled to Mount Hiei in Japan. My friend and I hiked up the mountain to the Tendai Buddhist temple complex and walked part of the way with two men who were almost 80! When we hiked down, we met a middle-aged Japanese man who showed us where to step in steep sections and told us to stop when there was an especially nice view. When we were almost down the mountain, he asked us if we liked Japanese beer. He told us to sit down and enjoy the view and gave us a can of beer to share. He walked us to the train station we had to leave from and because the train was about to arrive and I was taking too long to get out coins to use in the machine, he inserted money and paid for our train tickets! We never knew his name and we could barely communicate with him, but I will never forget how friendly this man was to two foreign strangers.

Teach, Learn, Share

Cooking, baking, playing guitar, speaking Chinese, farming

What I Can Share with Hosts

So many stories and experiences!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Taiwan