CURRENT MISSION

Launch a startup. Have fun.

ABOUT ME

I'm a recent college grad, work in NY. I'm pretty active and adventurous. I love trying new things. I would try anything at least once. Although I'm impulsive sometimes, I'm also quite cautious and I like to be responsible for myself. I'm usually independent, but I love hanging with people and sharing fun moments with others.

PHILOSOPHY

I want to gain new perspectives. Life is all about learning from others and from experiences, the good and bad. I'd like to think that I haven't experienced anything, but there is a surprise around every corner. Traveling and getting to know people from around the world, trying to learn to speak a new language are all things that bring me out of my comfort zone, and provide me with the thrill, thirst for knowledge, and humility that I seek so eagerly in life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love couchsurfing and hosting couchsurfers. I have had so much fun getting to know people from around the world.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I couchsurfed in Berlin, Brussels, Ghent, Prague, Vienna, Dresden, London, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Göteborg, Oslo, Bergen, Luxembourg, Leeuwarden, and Amsterdam. I hosted people from the US, Germany, Lithuania, France, the Netherlands, and Iran.

Is it me or are people from bigger cities less enthusiastic about hosting? All my couchsurfing experiences have been very positive.

Interests

When I travel, I love going on long hikes, exploring new places, and meeting new people. I think the most important thing, whenever visiting a new country or city, is the cultural experience. There are two things I aways do wherever I go to a new country, I always try the local food, sometimes from the hosts who were so kind to make them for me. I also spend lots of time at a cultural museum learning everything about the country I'm visiting. I enjoy sightseeing, but I find the most fascinating sites are those that no one knows about or explores.

At home, I'm very dedicated to my passion projects and I keep a programming blog because I love technical writing and sharing what I've learned. http://xiaoyunyang.github.io/

• traveling
• blogging
• live music
• hiking
• history
• sightseeing
• food
• indie music
• learning

Music, Movies, and Books

Live music.

Books: Any Malcolm Gladwell book. Algorithms to Live By. The Power of Habit. The $100 Startup. Smartcuts. Drive.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Too hard to pick. I have many:

- Wadlopen in Friesland, Netherlands
- Spent a night in a German castle after getting lost in the forest
- Hiked in Norway for 8 hours
- The Ghent Festival
- Saw NYC from an airplane at night...amazing
- Had a kaiseki dinner in Japan.

Teach, Learn, Share

live without a worry in the world, but always have a backup plan. Don't expect things to go wrong but prepare for it. Life is about solving problems so we could reach that level perfection we so desperately crave. Learning never stops. Read my blog: http://xiaoyunyang.github.io/ where I publish a lot of programming articles and articles about how to make your hobbies and passion into a career.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A place to stay in an awesome part of Manhattan, NY with a lot of nightlife and restaurant. A comfortable couch.

Note: I have a busy schedule and can't respond to last minute requests.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Germany, United States