Hi! I’m Yún-Yún (Nicole) from Taipei, Taiwan 💚🇹🇼 — a beautiful, independent country with rich culture, amazing food, mountains, beaches, and kind people. I’m lucky to call it home!

I’m an architectural+urban designer and researcher, interested in culture, cities, and how people live in different social contexts. I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area (2017–2025) for school and work, and now I’m traveling slowly to learn about places beyond the tourist layer.

I’m a sociable introvert who enjoys meaningful conversation, cultural exchange, and everyday local life. I value clear communication, mutual respect, and shared understanding, and I’m comfortable balancing social time with personal space.

I enjoy hiking, nature, public transit, walking, and cycling, and I prefer slower, grounded ways of exploring a place.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

After years of intense studying and working, I’m taking time in 2026–2027 to backpack and do self-guided cultural field research around the world.

I’m on Couchsurfing because I appreciate learning from local perspectives and sharing experiences in a respectful, comfortable environment. I usually plan ahead and value hosts who enjoy cultural exchange and clear expectations.

Interests

• architecture
• design
• photography
• politics
• cycling
• hiking
• ecology
• sociology
• urbanism

Music, Movies, and Books

My types of music, films, and books change as I grow. So below are my recent ones I've listened to/watched/read and enjoyed:

Music - indie, rock, shoegaze, classical, jazz etc.

Movies - A Foggy Tale大濛(2025), Scarface(1983), Taxi Driver(1976), Inglorious Basterds(2009)

Books - Braiding Sweetgrass

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

• Moved alone from Taipei, Taiwan 🇹🇼 to San Francisco, USA at 21 without knowing anyone. After 8 years, I returned to Taipei, leaving behind a second home and community to begin a new chapter of life.

• Completed 2 San Francisco Half Marathons, 1 San Francisco Full Marathon, and 1 Sprint Triathlon.

• Completed a 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat.

What I Can Share with Hosts

• Home-cooked vegetarian meals
• Thoughtful conversations and life stories
• Cultural exchange (Taiwanese+U.S. perspectives)
• Language exchange
• Respectful presence, clear communication, and gratitude

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Taiwan, United States