- I'm a writer currently studying at a Japanese language school in Tokyo

- I live alone in Shinjuku in a small studio apartment, but usually can't host

- 日本語ができる. 그리고, 한국어를 공부해요

- I travelled all over Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan for 14 months. It was my first time couchsurfing and
volunteering, and it changed my life

- I run a blog: kesem.co.uk

- You can also verify me on Instagram: @kesemsan

- I hold a multidisciplinary BA in arts and humanities from Tel-Aviv University (majored in literature, psychoanalysis, art, and cinema) and an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia

- I love anything Japanese, Greek, and Roman. In July 2024, I finally moved to Japan, but living in Athens between 479-404 B.C would've been amazing

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The people who hosted me during my trip changed my perspective regarding human benevolence and friendship. Couchsurfing is inifinitely better than staying at hotels

Interests

• writing
• traveling
• hiking
• art
• food
• museum

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:

- My favourite book… tough call. But no book makes me laugh, have fun, and cry as much as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was the first book I read in English, at twelve years old.

- I also love Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, 1984, Norwegian Wood, The Fountainhead, She: A History of Adventure, Gone Girl, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Into the Wild, and Emma.

Movies:

- My favourite movie is 2001: A Space Odyssey. I will never forget the first time I watched it. My mom asked me afterwards if I’d seen God.

- I also love Some Like It Hot, Carol, Gravity, The Tree of Life, Breathless, The Favourite, All About Eve, Inside Out, Wall-E, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Truman Show, Mean Girls, The Devil Wears Prada, Legally Blonde, The Princess Diaries, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and G.B.F.

- It’s a Wonderful Life gets an honourable mention because the ending always makes me weep, but it’s also way too capitalist and Christian for my liking.

TV shows:

- My favourite TV show is a tie between Twin Peaks and Ugly Betty. The former is a work of art. The latter, I can quote entire scenes from, and watch every year on my birthday.

- I also love SpongeBob, Mad Men, Sex and the City, Orange is the New Black, Veep, Black Mirror, The Good Place, The Wire, Project Runway, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Fleabag, The Prisoner, Death Note, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, The Other Two (which shares eerie similarities with my life), and the first season of Hacks and Girls5Eva.

Video games:

- Super Mario Galaxy 1&2, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Super Mario Bros 3, Pokémon B/W 1&2, Pokémon S/M, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A near-death experience on Mount Dounzan in Shodoshima

Teach, Learn, Share

I used to work as an English teacher and a travel planner

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Seychelles, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Israel, Japan, United Kingdom