CURRENT MISSION

Read more book. Extend years without a TV
Ironman Canada, hills I am coming
Raise Tippy (my pandemic puppy)
more climbing

ABOUT ME
https://twitter.com/Lindazhou68

I am female, agnostic. I speak Mandarin and English. Currently learning French. I like nature. I like gentle natural smell. I have lots of dolls (animals). My friends say I look like a minion.

Did bachelors in Economics and Linguistics in China, and MSc in AgEcon at U of Manitoba. Focused on sustainable studies in Uppsala, Sweden. But still wonder is there a sustainability to achieve? Right now, doing a graduate diploma in Public Policy and Program Evaluation.

Two years ago, May to the beginning of August I worked on an organic farm. I don't dislike GMO food specifically because I don't know a lot about it (and i think humans don't know enough yet, so how can we say it is bad? or good?) but i do support local farm and organic food. I think we need to care more about the environment not only because we want to sustain ourselves, but also because nature is our mother. Sometimes, I feel bad about driving to the farm. But i will try my best to minimize my cost to the nature.

I do all kinds of volunteer, Special Olympics, Canada Blood Service, FIFA, NorWest Food Centre and other translations. I finally got my own project going this summer. Winnipegers, come to check my urban agriculture project! https://www.facebook.com/GatheringGardening/

PHILOSOPHY
Believe in ecocentrism-- we need to redress the imbalance created by anthropocentrism
I try to appreciate the moment when I struggle
Think big, also small.
learn things from everyone. (from Confucius)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
I met Sem when i was in Ottawa. He introduced me to Couchsurfing world.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
started couch surfing from august of 2014.
Used couchsurfing to travel most of the time during my exchange study in Europe.
The UK trip is really a journey for me. My mood was influenced easily by people i met and hosts i encountered. I appreciate parents' support.

I like sharing my stories with people and i'd like to receive yours. I travel for sightseeing, food, as well as encountering people. Every person is a book.

Couchsurfing is an mutural-learning experience which is why i don't like people make a high expectation. No matter from surfer or host, you simply cannot ask too much. There is no obligation of talk, entertain and interact. Maybe we can all be a little bit more spontaneous, flexible and respectful for different interests, cultures, plans and personal life.
I learnt a lot from my past couch surfing experience. The reason I am hosting is that I like to help, even you just need a place to crash on. There is nothing wrong with the idea of saving money.

Interests

I backpack (sort-of), play soccer, swim and did sailing back home, Qingdao. I bought a Penny skateboard and want to use it to commute to school. It gives me nice memories and lots of scars at the same time. The same day of orientation in Uppsala I had two fresh (biggest) scars on my left elbow and hand. Then, I received a brochure prepared by SLU under title- STUDY WITH DISABILITY. Way to go. I started bouldering.

I lost my foster dog Ghost in Sep 2018. I enjoyed my time with Topaz and Max. Getting to know dogs and co-exist with them is definitely a fascinating experience.

I also like to read.

i like travel alone, most of the time because it helps me to think a lot.
but i also enjoy cool friend as company.
on my "lonely" journey, i develop diary habit and i like to use stickers and drawings to express myself, mostly because both my chinese and english are kind of lousy and ineffective.

I really want to have conversation in Persian and French!!! half-year exchange allow me relax too much and my brain was and still is going on strike.

• animals
• birds
• culture
• books
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• chocolate
• beer
• organic food
• running
• partying
• flying
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• surfing
• sailing
• skateboarding
• soccer
• olympics
• swimming
• world cup
• agriculture
• economics
• volunteering
• sightseeing

Music, Movies, and Books

i enjoy things(in any form) that can lead me understand more about culture, people, religion and the world.

grow up in a "no education" (愚民教育) system but just realized that i should start reading. also lead me to think that i should raise my children in a different way which i grow up.

I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT MUSIC.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

playing soccer nearly everyday during graduate studies, with Indian, Iranian, Pakistani and Nigerian. played soccer in Sweden. played soccer in Germany with new friends
hiking and partying with amazing icelandic people (spending new year with Magnus family was awesome!!!) Joined league this summer. Decided to go back Portsmouth after Isle of Wight, played for charity with navies.
learned how to skateboard in 15 mins when i am at 25.
biked from SLU to Flogsta, lost and found my way at 2 am in the morning
met great people through couch surfing: also a guy want to strip in front of me.
posted a message on Lithuania FB group and this wonderful friend showed me and we walked on icy hill road.
met my mermaid host in Warsaw and we played soccer at his elementary school.
met Mr Smurf at Ottawa. Turns out gurus are nice people.
doing FIFA women 2015 volunteer
drive to Ottawa and got a ticket when it was 138 in a post 90 zone.
Met Ali, Paul and Malcolm in UK!
I helped community members in advocacy office, which is a very fulfilling experience.
Drove 17 hours straight to Indianapolis, got cold and keep driving 8 hours the other day to Kansas city, meeting wonderful hosts Delvin and David and many other cool people. Finally 12 hours back home. oh oh too much drive.
My foster doggie Topaz and Max found their fur-ever home!
I did first time stand-up in 2018!
I presented my work green projects (compost, plastic recycling and etc) at U of M sustainability night. http://news.umanitoba.ca/sustainability-night-exploring-passion-for-the-environment/

Teach, Learn, Share

want to learn French, Persian and Icelandic (maybe later ^ ^) at the moment.

I can teach you Chinese.

like to get to know people from different culture and community

"birds born in a cage think flying is an illness"--Alejandro Jodorowsky

we are all biased to some extent and from everyday we are learning.

i wish i can try new things and learn new skills until i die.

things are changing, so no need to overreact. try to use a open mind to see everything or you can just give a lay-back attitude. don't push and let things flow naturally.

What I Can Share with Hosts

my weird cooking
swedish style chocolate ball
funny stories from real life-- I'm a good observer
some Chinese
my strength? I'm pretty strong in a way. strong arms from helping dad doing housework, strong legs from soccer and running away from classmates in school time and a belly from beer and genetic thing. lol

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Poland, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, Sweden