P LEASE READ:

I am here for genuine hospitality. I am entirely platonic & looking for friends. If you want anything else, please bypass my profile. I deserve to be respected as a woman and as an individual. If you flirt with me, I will block you. Any move on me in person will result on a bad review & a report through this platform.

Hello! My name is Emma and I recently returned to the USA after serving in Liberia! 🇱🇷

Instagram: emsherbine

Well it’s kind of a long story but basically how I got to where I am was by doing something completely different. I majored in IT at my undergraduate university. After I graduated I worked in the startup industry doing digital marketing and web design for about a year.

I absolutely HATED it. So what did I do? Booked a trip to Thailand and Japan to go solo traveling of course! I went and it COMPLETELY changed my life. Furthermore I learned about the path of becoming an English teacher abroad.

Once I discovered this I quit my work immediately, applied for a Visa and ended up going to South Korea to teach English. However this was in December 2019… and we all know what happened in 2020, right?

It was there and during this time that I discovered how powerful the blend of tech + education could be, especially for students cut off from classrooms.

I also eventually created my own online English learning platform and community - my website is www.englishwithemma.me or you can find me on Instagram or Facebook @englishwithemmauwu

Let me know if you want to read my free book!

These experiences also pushed me to pursue my Master’s in Educational Leadership and Societal Change, where I researched educational access in Uganda. Working with communities there deepened my commitment to bridging the digital divide—and it’s what ultimately inspired me to serve in Liberia, putting those ideas into practice on the ground.

Liberia became the place where everything connected: education, technology, community, and international development. I got to design curriculum, expand access, and see firsthand how local innovation is reshaping the future.

I was planning to stay awhile in Liberia and explore more of Western Africa, but unfortunately I ran into serious health issues. I did my best to hang in there, but eventually it was in my best interest to return to the U.S. to focus on recovery and figure out my next steps for my next adventure.

So here I am - back in my old stomping grounds that I haven’t consistently lived in for several years eagerly waiting for the next chapter: building on my experiences in Uganda, Liberia, Korea, and beyond to keep working where tech and education meet.

I hope that you can become a part of this chapter of my life - I have plenty of blank pages to be filled and would love for you to become part of the story! Interested? Send me a brief message about one of your favorite travel experiences! I always love a good travel story to start off a great friendship!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love making friends especially with locals so I feel through the Couchsurfing community I can get the best experience of a city/country.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach people a thing or two about drawing or design! I've also been an English teacher for over two years so I love teaching ESL!

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Liberia, South Korea, United States