Hi! I'm Natalie, and I'm currently a college student studying in Providence, RI (USA). I was born in Philadelphia and stayed there for a year, after which I moved to Beijing and spent the next fifteen years of my life. I went to an international school (which is unfortunately why my Chinese is not as good as I'd like to be!) and my parents are from Hong Kong. I spent my last two years of high school in at UWC Atlantic College, a boarding school in Wales.

I really enjoy traveling and meeting people. I think what makes any place worthwhile is not the history or the art or how economically prosperous it is, but the people themselves.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I think the greatest source of knowledge we have is each other, and that it would be a shame not to listen to and learn from of all the stories and experiences that people are willing to share. One of my favorite things to do is just to have a really long, wonderful conversation with someone over a home-cooked meal and a good glass of wine -- I think it's in those situations where you learn the most about someone else and about yourself as well. Also, a lot of things are much more enjoyable when you do it with other people, and I think exploring a city and traveling is one of those things. Couchsurfing is a great way to meet people who have some of the same values and perspectives as me, but who also have vastly different life experiences -- it's kind of like the best of both worlds!

Interests

I really enjoy studying literature -- I love reading books and I find literary theory incredibly interesting (I'm a bit of a nerd). I also dabble very lightly in philosophy (which I got into via my studies in comparative literature).

Since coming to France, I've developed a much deeper appreciation for the arts (painting and sculptures, mostly), as well as for French and European history in general. I tend to do a lot of "touristy" things when I travel around France just because all of it is relevant to what I'm studying, and I get so excited when I think about the fact that, at any given moment, I could be walking down the same street that Balzac walked on 150 years ago.

Other than that, I enjoy going on walks and getting lost in big cities, riding a bike around a city, going to markets, people-watching, and drinking real coffee. :)

• arts
• culture
• literature
• walking
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• swimming
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Currently listening to La Femme on repeat. I listen to all sorts of music, but my exposure to mainstream/top 40 hits is unfortunately pretty limited. Past favorite artists include the xx, Alt-J, and Fleetwood Mac. Artists that I listen to often include The Avalanches, Sylvan Esso, and Yann Tiersen. Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and Bjork are artists that I don't listen to as often as I would like.

Coming to France has also gotten me interested in film! I'm not a huge cinéphile but I really liked Ida, Léon: The Professional, and Fight Club.

Because I'm planning on being a literature major, a lot of the books I like are classics and generally bore people (understandably!). Some of the books I like: To the Lighthouse, Beloved, The Bell Jar, and Ficciones (a collection of Borges' short stories).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I can't think of any, really!!

I won the bronze medal at the Hong Kong Age Group Long Course Swimming Championships for the 50m freestyle when I was 9. It sounds a lot more impressive than it actually is, and my glory days are long gone now!

Teach, Learn, Share

I don't think I can teach much, but if anyone is learning basic Chinese or French, I'm happy to help out!

I want to learn about you. Everybody is really interesting and has a captivating story to share. :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm an easygoing, friendly person who's eager to discover the world. I'm enthusiastic and I really, really value getting to know people and their stories. I can't offer anything to hosts that can even come close to the kindness they are showing me, but if you want some company or a good conversation, I can definitely offer that :)

I don't stay out late (unless there's a big event going on, and I would tell you beforehand), and I'm pretty clean and quiet as well.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Madagascar, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United Kingdom, United States