***we only host verified surfers.***
**Please do not request 2 weeks ahead because I won’t know my schedule.**
**max stay: 4 days (3 nights)**

Business owner, writer, translator, language teacher. Wife and mother. **A very good cook and florist. ** Yoga (10+ years); dance; hiking; walking (everyday).

Considerate, social, intelligent & funny. Do not smoke or drink. Glad to host you in San Francisco Bay Area & Sichuan, China. ***I love animals but am allergic to dogs and cats, unfortunately.***

My food blog of plant-based diet:
https://80and20.wordpress.com/

For surfers: Simple breakfast will be offered. Help yourself with tea and snacks too. Please clean after yourself. No smoking indoors. We don’t party late and generally we expect surfers to be back by 10pm.
With a busy schedule we expect surfers to be self sufficient.

Almost always I cook big and healthy meal for guests but cannot promise that for everyday.

Please let us know your approximate schedule so we know when you are in or out of the house.

*please start your request with the word “willow”*.

Our place: 5 minutes walking to major business street with 40+ restaurants.
30 minutes walk to Berkeley Rose Garden,
20 minutes walk to Indian Rock park (parabolic view of the Bay Area)
30-40 minutes walk or 20 minutes bus to University (UB berkeley) and world class music, theatre and other performances.
20 minutes walk or bus+ 30 minutes BART (train, about $10) to San Francisco downtown.

Tips for travelers:
——————
Berkeley & Oakland
Berkeley Rose Garden, free, 200+ roses with view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Codornices Park is connected to the Rose Garden by a short tunnel. Check out its slide! Then walk uphill around to see unique houses and beautiful gardens on the hill.

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden: large and well kept. With a view of the bay. You can spend a day there. No cafe, so remember to pack some food.

Sather Tower on campus of UC Berkeley. $5 admission. 365 degree view of campus, Berkeley and the Golden Gate Bridge. At 12:00 noon, the carillon (bells) is played by musician. Quite a treat!
http://music.berkeley.edu/about-us/resources-and-facilities/sather-tower-carillon/
Check here for hours:
https://visit.berkeley.edu/campus-tourscampanile-tour/

Berkeley Bowl (2 locations, Berkeley Bowl West is bigger and nicer): best grocery store in America! 10 kinds of cucumbers, 20+ kinds of mushrooms, 12 kinds of carrots. Biggest selection of fruit and vegetable.

20+ independent bookstores.
Berkeley Public Library Main Branch

Theaters and music venues:
Addison street between Martin Luther King and Oxford, Berkeley’s mini “Broadway” with 10+ venues.

Zellerbach Hall & Greek Theater (outdoor amphitheater): world class performances
calperformances.org

Visitor’s Center
https://www.visitberkeley.com
You can find a list of restaurants.

Christ the Light Cathedral: master piece of architecture. Then go for a walk around Lake Merriet

——-
San Francisco

Golden Gate Park: huge park with museums, gardens, small lakes and wide open green field. DO NOT MISS: the tower next to De Young Museum with view of SF if 360 degrees. FREE but closes early some days.

Asian Art Museum (biggest Asian art museum outside of Asia)
Legion of Honor Museums. Quiet fine art museum on top of a hill with great view. There is also a short hiking trail next to the museum.

Lands end hiking trail

Citylight Bookstore

Grace Cathedral: frequent music events
——
California and San Francisco Bay Area

Muir Woods State Park: closest to the city with ancient redwoods

Point Ryes National Park: Yosemite is always crowded. Consider this one for quiet hiking trails and spectacular Pacific Ocean, beaches and wild life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet people and friends, to know places and culture in depth, to share what I have, to make the world a more friendly place.

Interests

• writing
• dancing
• education
• cooking
• yoga
• walking
• gardening
• flowers
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• business
• philosophy
• psychology
• food
• startups
• fire spinning
• writing poetry

Music, Movies, and Books

Almost any genre

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Started my own business. Wrote books in 2 languages.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you: Cooking, yoga, Chinese, English, flower arrangement. I want to learn: Any skill! Share: my place in San Francisco Bay Area & Sichuan China.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Cooking, hiking, restaurant, yoga, gardening, language classes.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Taiwan, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, United States