Hello, my name is Elizabeth, and I'm new to CouchSurfing~ I grew up in the states, then went to university in Montreal, Canada, and currently, I'm on exchange in Singapore. I chose to study in each of these places because I enjoy living abroad, connecting with people from all backgrounds and life experiences, and finding familiarity wherever I go. Living as an "outsider" in different countries has taught me the importance of patience, inclusivity, and compassion (both from myself and in receiving these from others), but it's also given me the strength to be resilient and independent...even when I might feel out of my comfort zone. This, in turn, has allowed that comfort zone to grow, and I'm eager to visit new places and expand my cultural awareness. I love the outdoors: swimming, hiking, long walks, horseback-riding, scuba diving...etc. I'm vegetarian, and I'm not a foodie (I know, I know...) 😛 I love quiet days in (I have a huge reading list, and I actually keep up with it), but when I travel I'm usually out doing things... I also like museums, botanical gardens, and seeing historic buildings/places. I try to pick up some of the local dialect(s) wherever I go--even if it's a simple "please" and "thank you"--just to be polite! For me, language-learning bridges many gaps, both communicative and cultural, and I've found I'm able to connect with people when I can listen and appreciate what they say...and when I fumble or miss a word, it's an opportunity to laugh together, and hopefully make a friend out of a linguistic faux-pas!