Hi my name is Kayo, I was born in Japan, raised in France by my travel-passionate Chinese-Japanese parents (with whom I've gotten to visit over a dozen of countries already!) I'm currently studying math and computer science, working part-time as an artificial intelligence researcher, and spending my free time doing music 😊

Traveling with parents or friends is always fun too, but ever since I traveled to Austria alone for the first time, I fell in love with solo traveling and the CS community as I really got to immerse myself in the destination, connect with locals and meet so many great people!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm always looking to meet new people from all kinds of backgrounds, and I think Couchsurfing is the best platform to connect with others who have the same passion for travelling and exchanging culture like I do!

I really hope Couchsurfing will allow me to meet and connect with locals during my travels since visiting a new place isn't complete by only visiting landmarks, without actually meeting locals and making great memories together. I also hope to share parts of my culture - a mix of Japanese, Chinese and French - that I'm really proud of!

Interests

I'm a huge fan of music and art, so I love going to concerts and museums while travelling! I also love nature and hiking in the mountains, my legs never get tired where the air is fresh and the scenery is great 😊 I try to minimize my carbon footprint, and follow a vegan lifestyle to respect animals, nature and my own body 💚 I'm also on a journey to minimalism, to declutter my life and collect experiences instead

• animals
• concerts
• dancing
• vegan
• minimalism
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• buddhist
• extreme sports
• nature
• sustainability
• museums

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm openminded when it comes to music, but I have my key obsessions:
The Eagles that I grew up with since it's all my dad played in his car
Chopin and my favorite Chopin interpreters Rubinstein and Kissin, whose music is my main motivation to keep working on piano and whose every note makes my heart weep
Lorde my highschool gay crush haha

Studio Ghibli movies are my lifelong favorites, with a special mention to Nausicaa and Spirited Away. Also, any movie where the lesbian couple gets a happy ending (aka Imagine Me & You)

I'm a huge Dan Brown fan, I just love how he's able to cleverly intertwine modern scientific breakthroughs and historical monuments and art into a thrilling adventure. I also LOVE Sherlock Holmes, by leatherbound B&N Collectible Edition Complete Sherlock Holmes is my most prized possession (and not only because it's the perfect book to press tofu with)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I managed to go climb the highest mountain in East Asia alone by hitchhiking 11 times and relying on my not-so-perfect Mandarin

Teach, Learn, Share

Give me a piano, flute, saxophone, trumpet, ukulele, erhu, harmonica or ocarina and I'd love to teach you to play! Then, teach me anything - a recipe, a language, or how to whistle (I've been trying for 19 years without success), everything gets me curious so I'd love to learn anything you have to offer. I can also share my travel stories, like the time I got adopted by an Atayal tribe in Taiwan when I was looking for wild hot springs and they baptized me with an Atayal name ("Wa-wie"), or how I hitchhiked 11 times to climb Jade Mountain :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

- Some live Chopin music
- My shameless dance moves at the club
- My mom's techniques to fold dumplings and roll sushi rolls
- My secret chocolate cake recipe (that make my friends go "wow I can't believe this is vegan")
- Self-defense (judo, karate, boxing, fencing or Chinese martial arts take your pick)
- A spooky tarot reading
- Souvenirs from France (or whatever country I'm in before I meet you)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Japan, Taiwan