CURRENT MISSION

On professional side: Use business as a force for good. Supporting entrepreneurs who use business to generate positive social impact, especially for marginalized populations.

On personal side: I have benefited from traveling, and living abroad. Starting out a new journey, study a new culture and leave my footprints on exotic places. I aim for one day I would be able to share my experience and give back to this wonderful world we call global village.

I wrote about my experience living in India as a woman, experiencing the different gender dynamics . http://www.idexaccelerator.com/blog/2019/5/7/being-born-a-girl

From Nairobi, Kenya to Bangalore, India, I wrote about my experience working in the impact ecosystem with social entrepreneurs and investors. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/camel-spirit-rachel-chen-qiu-mba

ABOUT ME

Born and raised in the Southern Yangtze River area in China. I have never been abroad before the age of twenty. Now, I'm living in Canada, thousands of miles away from home. I have traveled to twenty countries and lived in five, including China, Canada, France, Kenya and India. I learn from the places I visit, and I learn from people I met along my travel. Thanks to my natural curiosity, I take a bit with me from the places I went, whether it be the beautiful scenery, the tasty food, or acts of generosity of locals and friends.

What I’m doing with my life

I finished my MBA in 2016. It's my natural curiosity in exploring something new and different that drew me to Canada that is seven thousands of miles from home.
I left Canada in 2018 to work in Kenya and India have recently returned to Toronto after a year of stint.

What’s the big quote by Mark Twain again?

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-- Mark Twain

Now, I'm thinking about my next big goal. Before I become too old, too lazy, too tied up in family and jobs, I would like to try as many different possibilities with my life as possible.

PHILOSOPHY

To explore, dream and discover!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I heard about this amazing site through a someone who bloged about her travelling experience in Taiwan. I love it immediately.It's great way for people not just be a tourist but be see through local people's eyes! CS is a great website for people to get connected in a magical way.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have surfed in US, Belgium, Netherlands. I met with wonderful hosts who not only provided me with a place to stay, but also authentic food and genuine insights. I had such an amazing time travelling with courchsurfing friends in San Francisco, LA, France too.

Interests

I'm very adventurous in learning new interests: I love:
Learning French
Currently learning tango! Have tried Salsa, Bachata, cha cha, rumba in the past.
Hiking, trekking and cycling: summit Mt kilimajaro and hiked for seven days in the Himalayan mountains.
Swimming: best experience: Swim in Lake Geneva
working out and build my body

• dancing
• bachata
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• sailing
• swimming
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

BOOK: The Outlier. One day. On the road. The kite runner. The great Gatsby. Pride and Prejudice.
MOVIE and TV: Friends. Sex and the city. The suite. Newsroom. Slumdog Millionaire. Into the Wild. Unbroken, Before sunset series
MUSIC: One Republic, Train, Beyonce

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Booked a flight and went straight to New York on my own at the age of twenty. Before that, I have never been out of China before.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share with you what's it like in China and Canada as a professional. I'm very culture sensitive so I can share with you lots of details from my travel in Europe and living in Canada and China, Kenya and India. I follow news on personal finance, Impact investing, latest disruption in business, social enterprise, gender equality etc.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good conversation, and a couch in my home place if you visit in future.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, France, India, Kenya