Hey! 👋🏽 The name's Rachel, I'm 24 and Canadian. I am based in Ottawa but from Montréal originally. Currently pursuing a master's in International Affairs and currently working in the diplomacy and foreign policy sphere for the Canadian federal government. I consider myself a friendly cosmopolite, always pursuing adventure and fulfillment. I love all things culture - food and cuisine (top of the list because it's important to me in a variety of ways), art, music, religion (I am nonreligious but find it respectful to inform myself of other traditions), philosophy, and more.

Some fun facts about me:

* I think banana flavored candy is highly underrated and that is a hill I am willing to die on.
* I'm an artist - I sculpt tiny foods out of clay, love to paint with watercolors, and I can decorate cakes pretty well if I say so myself.
* I love the movie Her with a passion - I'd say it's my favorite of all time.

A bit more about my life, should you be at all interested... I was born in the United States, spent several years of my childhood in China then moved to Canada. My dad's Jewish-American whilst my mother is Sri Lankan (this certainly makes for a fantastic blend of cultures within my home). I grew up in an extremely multicultural environment - I have fond memories of traveling in overnight trains throughout China, backpacking around East Asia at the tender age of 6 and driving through the Australian outback. I've been exposed to so much of what this fascinating world has to offer, I guess I am naturally inclined to want to know more.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Just to meet people, honestly.

Interests

• arts
• poetry
• festivals
• cooking
• baking
• politics
• music
• folk music
• r&b music
• anthropology
• archeology
• languages
• political science
• activism
• muay thai
• horror movies
• vintage
• classic rock
• afrobeats

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
Burna Boy, Giveon, Simon and Garfunkel, Peter, Paul and Mary, Leon Bridges, Sufjan Stevens, Shenseea, Erik Satie, Los Panchos, Aventura, TEEKS, Westside Boogie, Eydie Gormé, Jean Leloup, Cat Stevens, Rema, Franz Liszt, The Lumineers, George Harrison, Sam Cooke, Santana, The Cure, Elliott Smith, Allen Stone.

Movies:
Her, The Florida Project, Rushmore, Arrival, Incendies, Mommy, The Shape of Water, Synechdoche New York, mother!, City Lights, Hair, Cinema Paradiso, Room, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Schindler's List, The Birds, Nebraska, Call Me By Your Name, The Graduate, Gaslight, Harry Potter (the entire series! 💓), Rebecca

Books: The Children's Hour (Lillian Hellman), The Metamorphosis (Franz Kafka), On the Road (Jack Kerouac), The Bridge of San Luis Rey (Thornton Wilder), L'Étranger (Albert Camus), The Decameron (Boccaccio), The Importance of Being Earnest (Oscar Wilde), Notre-Dame de Paris (Victor Hugo)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent a couple years of my childhood living in Beijing. During that time I traveled across China on overnight trains with my parents. We used to go somewhere new every weekend.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a great chef! I'd be glad to cook a meal for you and teach you the intricacies of Canadian (and Sri Lankan, and Chinese...) cuisine :D

What I Can Share with Hosts

A good conversation, a book and a small treat from Québec or Ontario, a postcard, perhaps even some strange experience from the 24 short years I've been on this earth.

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Peru, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, United States