I am a Southern California native who left the sunny beaches of Orange County to study and work in the crazy world of international relatons in Washington DC. I would characterize myself as an old soul with a love for what is in the past and what is present but soon to disappear, a love that pairs well with my passion for travel photography and history. I enjoy hole-in-the-wall restaurants, dark beers, golden hour, my Los Angeles Lakers, the mountains and the seas, and cooking food--especially Italian or Chinese.

New to Couchsurfing, but I bring with me a 100% positive rating from AirBnb :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I believe that the best way to travel and know a new place is to experience it directly with the residents. That is an impossibility in hostel life. I once viewed AirBnB as the answer, but over the years, it's become more corporate and less personal. So here I am, giving Couchsurfing a try, a decade after I first began solo traveling.

Interests

• photography
• wine
• chinese food
• beer
• folk music
• history
• cuisine
• local food

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, East of Eden, Pachinko

Movies: Too many to count, but one that's had a lasting impression on is Before Sunrise. The entire concept of meeting a stranger on a train and developing a lifetime of memories--not necessarily romantic in my case--from what could easily have been a missed moment was always an enchanting thought.

Music: My tastes are very eclectic. I like indie, folk, jazz, rock, as well as Irish tavern music--a love that emerged from my first solo trip abroad many years ago.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once took a 30-hour standing room only third-class train from Beijing to a rural part of southwestern China during the height of the Spring Festival, when hundreds of millions of migrant workers traveled to their homes in the countryside to celebrate with their families. The conversations were magical.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories of travel, insights into Chinese-American culture, and delicious recipes.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Cambodia, Canada, China, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Palestine, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United States