I'm Xiaoxiao, and I study illustration and make comics (sometimes) in Toronto. I've worked in animation, doing backgrounds as well. My second big interest right now is in psychoanalysis - I used to want to become a therapist and it's wonderful to realize later in life I could do both in a way (be a psychoanalyst and an artist).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'd like to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and sit (or walk..) with them. It's interesting meeting new people and having conversations!

Interests

• comics
• drawing
• music
• languages
• art
• food
• psychoanalysis
• psychotherapy

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Kate Bush, HAYA, the one album Omnipotent Youth Society released, Faye Wong, Mitski, Loreena Mckennitt. I listen to a lot of Voice of China songs and have a broad interest in Chinese music.

Books: I love how Adam Phillips writes and speaks. A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry. With Culture in Mind: Psychoanalytic Stories, edited by Muriel Dimen. Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood.

Movies: Hiroshima my Love, Dogtooth, A Sun

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm really happy I've left a trail of artwork behind me, to put me in touch with the people I've been in the past. More concretely, a comic of mine won an award for best Canadian comics, in the avant-garde category.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to share my passion for the many things I'm interested in. I'm very interested in conversation itself and like to reflect on it. I'm a language-learning nerd and have been doing language exchange for years. I'm also an English/ESL tutor and really enjoy helping people with their accent, grammar, writing, language-learning strategies. I also really like sharing thoughts about the immigrant and bicultural experience and cultural backgrounds generally, as I have many feelings about my own. I love sketchbooking whilst travelling so we could draw together as well?

What I Can Share with Hosts

My own history and cultural perspective, the person and presence I am. And attentive ears to listen to your stories!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, United States