CURRENT MISSION

Trying to learn more about the world

ABOUT ME

36 year old teacher, musician, philosopher, gamer and wannabe vagrant.

I love to get to know other people, their lives, culture and politics through conversation, especially during long walks. And I love to share about my country.

Feel free to look me up on LinkedIn if you care about what I'm doing professionally.

PHILOSOPHY

Just trying to live authentically!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love dialogue, and getting to know people from very different backgrounds. To get to know local people and to save a little on accommodation, knowing how expensive hostels and Airbnb can get these days, it's really a no-brainer!

HOSTING EXPERIENCE

I do not currently host as I live with 3 other housemates at an apartment we rent in Cambridge, MA. I have not hosted before either as I lived with my parents back in Singapore. But maybe someday!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've couchsurfed in Zurich, Chicago and New York!

Interests

I'm classical and jazz pianist, although honestly somewhat out of practice because teaching gets busy!

I also love reading, learning, thinking and talking to people about local and world issues. Teaching and learning is a huge part of what makes me tick.

Also quite a bit of a gamer, be it board or video games. If there's an opportunity, I would love to bring along a board game to play with you wonderful hosts and your family! As you might expect, this means I'm not really sporty (or at all). The only kind of exercise I really do is walking long distances and cycling.

Have been a school teacher for basically half a decade and still having a blast.

• cats
• performing arts
• exercise
• walking
• video games
• reading
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• piano
• cycling
• teaching
• philosophy

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Brad Mehldau, Joni Mitchell, Ravel, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens etc. Mainly jazz, classical and folk but also others

I must also make a special mention to musicians who write and/or perform minimalistic music such as Glass and Reich, whose music remind me of sitting in one place while watching the world and time pass ever slowly.

Books: I basically live by Le Petite Prince. I wish I read more books, but nowadays I mostly read article and op-eds online

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Being in National Service and having to serve in operations where I guarded some interesting locations around Singapore that I wouldn't otherwise have access to. Those were the quietest and most peaceful times for me and it was where I learnt that I truly loved just standing still in one place and watching things go by as time passes.

Teach, Learn, Share

Jamming or other kinds of musical collaboration. I can also teach you how to create your remixes. You won't believe how easy it is. Check out my YouTube channel (just search for IamSooty or Sooty Heng for some of the music I've done before).

I can show you some awesome board games if I have the space to bring them along with me.

I teach English in school as well.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'd love to have long conversations about anything we share an interest about!

I'll also play some music for you if you have a piano or keyboard. Or I could show you how to create mixes of your favorite songs.

I also videogame/boardgame if you do that!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Singapore, United States