Hello, the name's Jane! Last year, I quit my job to travel and volunteer abroad on my own for five months around Asia. I also backpacked a bit around South America too. I previously graduated from UT Austin and spent a semester of it studying in Vienna, Austria. Most recently, I completed my master's at Duke. However, there's definitely plenty more to learn outside the classroom, so I hope to absorb whatever I can while I'm out traveling. I believe the most valuable and impactful life lessons can only truly be learned through experiences, not by words.

Though I'll miss being able to call Texas home, I'm leaving it all behind to spend some time outside my comfort zone and move forward with life. Hope to see you along the way!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

It's hard not having a place to exactly call home or find friends when in a foreign country. However, I think Couchsurfing comes close to providing one.

Here's some experiences I've had thanks to this website:
- Scuba diving through a ship wreckage in Bali
- Shared an omakase meal with a group of elderly Japanese friends in Okayama
- Ate okonomiyaki, peeled garlic, and watched variety shows with my hosts' children in Hiroshima
- Explored hawker culture and tasted all kinds of cuisines with my hosts in Singapore

Through Couchsurfing, I hope to find a temporary home away from home and experience life from a different perspective. (:

Interests

• design
• photography
• thrifting
• live music
• hiking
• street food
• art museums

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I did the whole "quit my job to backpack solo around the world" thing. I know it seems like such a cliché, but I realized that it's quite a lifechanging feat. Sacrificing the comfort of home, family, friends, and a stable income is definitely crazy, but I just couldn't sit back wondering what's out there when I could leave everything behind and go explore it myself. I don't regret it one bit. I honestly hope I can do it again someday (don't tell my boss though).

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm an open book! I love sharing stories from my past experiences and random facts/jokes. I can handle myself in the kitchen and can help out with any cooking. I also don't mind doing some house cleaning either (I actually find it quite stress-relieving).

I treat each place I stay in with respect. I understand the purpose of Couchsurfing and see it way beyond a free night's rest. I do hope we can share a genuine connection with each other!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, United States