My name is Julie and I am an English Teacher. I've taught English in China and South Korea and love traveling to other places. Like many, if not most, travelers, I love to spend time meeting new people, learning new things, and wandering around nearby areas. I'm pretty easy-going and friendly. I love nature and fiction a lot. I also dream of writing a book one day, but we'll see how that goes...

I'm also a vegetarian, which is very important to me. If you aren't one, don't worry, I won't bombard you with pro-veggie talk unless you ask, but if you want to have a meal together, it might be slightly more difficult depending on the country and city. I'm also willing to cook, though I'm not that great at it. I can follow recipes (if they're vegetarian), but I might only have two or three to share of my own. It's an area I'm currently working on expanding my knowledge on.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've learned that I always have the best experiences when I put myself out of my comfort zone. Right now I have no couch of my own to offer, but I'd love to try to experience from the other end!

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I listen to a lot of different types of music, depending on my mood. Some bands/artists I will always love include: The Smiths, The Libertines, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nine Inch Nails, The Dresden Dolls, Amanda Palmer, The Arctic Monkeys, Andrew Bird, Levi Weaver, Amy Winehouse, Gaba Kulka, How to Destroy Angels, The Last Shadow Puppets, Mirel Wagner, The Tallest Man on Earth, A Perfect Circle, etc. etc.

Films: I like most genres. Science Fiction, Action, Thrillers, Crime... I think my favorite movies tend to be really good sci-fi (Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc) or ones that make you think. I'm not overly found of movies that are purely love stories, action films that ignore plot, or slasher horror films (though I really enjoy psychological horror films).

Books: I have been a Tolkien fan since middle school and a Harry Potter fan since... who even knows when that started. Other books that I have reread and love are Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Good Omens, and When My Name Was Keoko.

Other interests: I love writing and am trying to work on a book while traveling. Meeting new people and seeing new places helps inspire me. I also love playing guitar, but I'm not good at it. Photography is another hobby of mine, and occasionally playing with Photoshop.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Honestly, mostly my traveling. Recently, I climbed the tallest mountain in South Korea, which was pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

I think the best decision I ever made in life was to stop letting fear stop me. I never left the United States until two years ago when I packed my bags to go live in China by myself for 5 months. I've never looked back. The people I've met and the experiences I've had are something I would have never experienced without leaving my comfort zone. I've learned so much from other people and experiences and hope to keep learning.

Teach, Learn, Share

Mainly, I love to hear and share stories and philosophies, but I am willing to learn whatever you have to offer. Likewise, I don't mind teaching anything I can offer!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Mostly I can share stories, though I am a teacher for a living. Although I don't have many recipes of my own to share with you (more like experiments that turn out okay, but I'm hoping to expand on this soon), if you want to have a meal together, I am more than willing to do my share for the entire process!

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, China, England, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, South Korea, Taiwan

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, South Korea, United States