On a cross country drive from MA to CA, leaving my job as an EMT and ending up at a Buddhist monastery in California. Hoping to stay a couple nights in different places along the way!

I feel like my life has been one big travel adventure, with almost too much of it. I was born in China, and immigrated to Canada when I was five, growing up in Toronto (an awesome city to be in, where people and cultures mix and match while at the same time maintaining their distinct identities). Grew up playing the piano as one of the only ways I could find my voice and express myself, first classically trained for eight years and then branching out into jazz, funk, and other other styles where I could play in a group setting.

I've also lived in Montreal and left home early, joining the Canadian Army Reserves for a short period of time. I'd always really felt the sentiment in Queen's "There's More to Life Than This", and it's always been a quest to find out, what's the thing that I want to commit to? What's worth dying for? I've had my low points for sure, struggling with self-doubt, depression, and anxiety, and have "Spiritually Bypassed" more times than I can count. All this led up to me finding formal Buddhist practice and falling in love with it.

So since 2015, I've been practicing meditation daily and for the most part, having a daily practice at Zen temples, including participating in their ceremonies, and work practice. It's really clicked with me, and at this point there's nothing I'd rather do than be able to provide for others the sense of refuge and relaxing into my own body and mind that I had the privilege to experience for myself.

So to that end, I've lived residentially at an urban Zen temple (Zen Center North Shore, Beverly MA) and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, a monastery in central California, for cumulatively about three years - the greatest blessing I've ever had. I'm coming back to that temple after having taken just over a year to be out in the world again (including becoming a certified EMT-B) and really confirm for myself, "is this the thing that I want to do?" And it is, so I'm coming home to Tassajara. If you're hosting me, thank you for supporting me in my practice!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet cool people who can connect me with other new people, and vice versa. Sharing experiences. And honestly, making pit stops on my cross counrtry tour from MA-CA. I think couchsurfing is a lot more interactive and worthwhile than stopping at some anonymous hostel.

Interests

Simple things, done over and over.

• cooking
• meditation
• walking
• psychology
• zen
• playing piano
• appreciating what's here

Music, Movies, and Books

Bonobo. Joan M. Serrat. DJ Snake. Bobby Caldwell. Chopin. Stevie Wonder. Nujabes. J. Cole. Forrest Gump! The Avengers. Fraiser. Nova. Eihei Dogen. Peace Pilgrim. Flow. Arabian Sands. Opening the Hand of Thought. The Food Lab. Sanctuary: A Meditation on Home, Homelessness, and Belonging. Man's Search for Meaning.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Made a lifelong friend teaching meditation on the Camino de Santiago.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you're into music or dance or meditation, let's share what we've learned with each other! Let's do whatever is connecting.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Gratitude - leave no trace but appreciating what we can give to each other. Willing to help out with chores. Sharing music and meditation, cooking too? Let's go out to eat for a meal or something. Ask me about anything I've shared in my bio, and I'd love to learn about your experience too!

Countries I’ve Visited

Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, United States