I'm from Sunnyvale, California. Since going to study abroad for one month in Kyoto Japan when I was 20 years old, I fell in love with traveling, Since then, I've studied, worked, volunteered, and traveled to many other countries. 44 countries so far.

Currently based in Austin, Texas, USA

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love to meet local people because I think it is the best way to travel and to get to know the culture. Some of my best traveling experiences were with couchsurfers that I met.

Interests

Water sports! I love swimming, body boarding, and surfing (beginner). I love photography as well and I really enjoy learning foreign languages! I'm fluent in English and conversational to varying levels in Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese Mandarin, and Spanish.

• culture
• photography
• traveling
• surfing
• swimming
• languages
• study abroad
• volunteering

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Got invited to an engagement party in the middle of the tropical jungle (access is by canoe only) and participated as a gift bearer near Ca Mau, Vietnam

Hiked to isolated Quechua villages for NGO related work in the Sacred Valley, Peru

Hot air ballooning in Capadoccia, Turkey at sunrise, overlooking the fairy chimney stack formations

Completed my masters degree in International Relations abroad in Madrid, Spain

Ate the infamous Swedish surstromming and surprisingly thought it was quite pleasant 😅

Watched the dancing lights in the sky during the sky lantern festival in Pingxi, a tiny mountainside village in Taiwan from the roof of a building

Volcano boarding down an active volcano in Leon, Nicaragua

Homestay with the Hmong ethnic tribe in Sapa highlands in Vietnam and taking a shot of their own moonshine

Saw the nightsky at 5.4 km above sea level in the badlands in Bolivia and understanding where why the song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star exists

Met teenage monks on top of an mountainside temple in Laos and had deep conversations about life ending with them asking for my facebook 😂

Stayed in Rabat, Morroco with a couchsurfer and was treated to an unforgetful homecooked meal by her mother. 🥹

Bathed in tons of dirty smashed tomatoes in the most epic tomato street brawl in Bunol, Spain

Experienced the Gion summer festival in Japan in a Yukata with friends, munching on street food by the river, lighting sparklers and listening to the cicadas

Became open water scuba certified in Pulau Aur, Malaysia diving after pulling an all nighter traveling by bus and wooden boat. Sitting on the roof of the boat with lightning in the distance rumbling makes you feel really small in the world.

Participated in the Jindo Sea Parting Festival in Korea, running back to the mainland as water began quickly filling in the walkway.

Intentionally swam in the middle of a shark feeding frenzy in Shark Alley in Belize. Don't worry- these type of sharks are not a threat to humans.

Teach, Learn, Share

Everyday is a new opportunity to learn something new and open our minds

What I Can Share with Hosts

My travel stories, my company, good conversation, and a genuine interest in your culture

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, United States