My Chinese name is Yan Xin Yu. (Last name goes first!)
I just graduated with a degree in Anthropology and Urban Studies in the US. I aspire to be a human geographer, street photographer, musician, and swing dancer.
I want to live a life that balances thinking and doing, inputting and outputting. I love learning, be it through reading and theorizing or encountering strangers. I introspect a lot but I also love it when I forget about myself and just take in the world around me. My favorite pastime is to wander in markets, parks, and busy streets. I believe that a lot of spontaneous and friendly exchanges can happen in a well-designed city.
I am quite outgoing and talkative, but I am also very comfortable being by myself. I love asking questions because people always have amazing stories and perspectives. I’m quite energetic and outdoorsy, especially when it’s sunny I just want to be outside all day.
I would love to talk about anything from the classic songs in your country to your favorite recipe.
I love everything that allows me to see/experience the world beyond my own perspective and body, like creating or viewing art or learning about how others live.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love meeting people from different cultures and learning about what life looks like in another corner of the world.

Interests

• singing
• swing dancing
• jazz
• film photography
• street photography

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies:
David Lynch, Hitchcock, Tarkovsky, Wender, Tsai Ming Liang, Wong Kar Wai
Music:
Jazz, post-rock, shoegaze, classical music
Books:
Siddhartha, the Brothers Karamazov, Franny and Zooey

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Pretty grateful for the time when i took a solo trip across eight cities in Mexico when I didn’t even know Spanish,
made some awesome local friends

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: Mandarin, Swing Dance (Lindy Hop), Sound synthesis
Learn: Spanish, jazz keyboard, salsa
Share: travel stories!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love to talk about my culture and share my languages.
I’m a singer so I would love to learn folk songs in your language or teach some mandarin classics.
I cook Chinese food.
I do photography and would love to take your portrait!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United States