Not Accepting Guests
- Last login over 3 years ago
Join Couchsurfing to see Mark’s full profile.
Overview
About Me
I was born in Beijing and grew up in Southern Ontario. I went to university in the US, and have worked in Canada, the US, and New Zealand. The more I see, the more I realize how little I know, so I've learned to take things less seriously. I'm a very chill, open-minded, and friendly guy who just wants to learn about the world and its amazing cultures and way of life, try as much interesting food and drink as possible, and hopefully do something to contribute positively to the world! I also love random adventures and doing something out-of-the-ordinary.
Why I’m on Couchsurfing
It's a great way to meet people and learn when travelling. With Couchsurfing, I always discover more about the local culture and history, as well as get a glimpse of what a local's way of life is. It's like having friends wherever you go who can show you the best things their community has to offer!
Interests
I am very interested in learning about and experiencing different cultures, practises, foods, and societies. I am especially interested in learning how different people and cultures view the world. The more I learn, I closer I feel to everyone else, and the more similarities I see between different cultures and peoples. I am also very big into trying local food and drinks, especially beer! I've tried over 1700 beers so far! I also love getting into deep discussions about life.
- culture
- dining
- beer
- drinking
- technology
- traveling
- socializing
- history
Music, Movies, and Books
Music: Everything! Recently: indy rock like Cage the Elephant, Of Monsters and Men, Weezer, etc.
Movies: Comedy, adventure. I absolutely love Lawrence of Arabia and its soundtrack. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Miyazaki - anything that puts me in a different and exciting new world.
Books: Anything philosophical or that gives me a new way to look at the world.
One Amazing Thing I’ve Done
I love every place I've visited, but the most memorable places for me have been:
North Korea - mindblowingly unreal!
Vanuatu - the catalyst making me content in life.
New Zealand - closest a society comes to matching my beliefs.
Polynesia - a microcosm of societal evolution.
New Caledonia - felt like the world in "Avatar".
Japan - unique society and general awesomeness.
Morocco - great history, food, culture, and nature.
Svalbard - explored a frozen abandoned mine under the midnight sun.
Teach, Learn, Share
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good."
- Thomas Paine
What I Can Share with Hosts
- Deep conversations about life.
- The lowdown on the tech industry.
- Travel stories and learnings.
- Hopefully some great company over a tasty local beer.
Countries I’ve Visited
American Samoa, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Martin (French part), Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Vatican City State
Countries I’ve Lived In
Canada, China, New Zealand, United States