I was born in Seoul, South Korea and have lived in Los Angeles for the past 23 years. Starting in 2015, I set off on a solo trip to various places of interest around the world. I have never done something of this magnitude, so I am nervous and curious, but mostly just excited for all of the adventures ahead of me.

I have a colorful background as I grew up skateboarding and playing in bands, cycling (I once rode from San Francisco to LA with friends) and music journalism. I then later got into business management and broadcast production, education, and then returned to dance after a very long hiatus. I am most happy when I am dancing, learning new things and connecting with people. I hope to be able to share and gain new experiences out there with some of you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Throughout my travels so far, I've learnt that a country or city may be nice by itself, but that the most important part of anywhere I visit is the many kind, fun and interesting people in it. I've met so many people alone the way who are excited to just enjoy life and share great new experiences with new friends and communities. I've become inspired, humbled and transformed in many positive ways after having connected with and befriended so many people whom I've just randomly met in a park, a bookstore, a dance class... and so easily! I want to keep on building on those experiences and putting out just as much great energy as I've been lucky enough to receive, and Couchsurfing seems to epitomize that the best of all.

Interests

I love to meet new people and make friends, laugh, and learn new things. Most of all, I love to dance - classical ballet is my greatest passion, and I am excited to keep learning flamenco and other forms of dance. I try to take at least one dance class of some kind in each city I visit.

I also enjoy reading, and eating whenever possible - good food (and lots of it!) is very important to me. I can talk about music, film, history, science, art and pretty much anything else for hours, and I am thrilled when I can meet others who can do the same and share their passions.

• arts
• writing
• photography
• dancing
• flamenco
• ballet dancing
• education
• dining
• cooking
• fitness
• gardening
• reading
• knitting
• music
• guitar
• cycling
• skateboarding
• sports
• business
• teaching
• history
• journalism
• psychology
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - anything and everything, from Bach and Chopin to Slayer and Pig Destroyer. Lately, I've gotten into an Argentine composer named Sebastian Escofet who composed a brilliant classical guitar soundtrack for one of my recent favorite films.

On that note, an Argentinian film called La Boyita was a film that made a strong impression on me. I also enjoy my share of gratuitously moody independent Scandinavian films. Also, I can't go long without watching The Godfather at least a few times a year.

Back home, I would constantly rotate through books but never really settle on one. I'm assuming that my taste in literature has been compromised in recent years as it's taken a backseat to dance. If you have any recommendations, I'd be thrilled to hear of them.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Because of my unique background in sports, music, education, business and general mucking about, I can offer my skills in:

- playing music - namely guitar - both electric and acoustic
- welding (oxyacetylene and MIG)
- knitting (who doesn't love a good ol' winter scarf?)
- cycling
- skateboarding
- how to cuss in Polish (I'll explain this when we meet)
- all of the circle time songs you'd ever want to learn, thanks to my preschool teaching days (and, on that note, how to change a child's diaper with one hand while catching another kid as he tumbles out of a treehouse with the other arm)
- how to cook Korean food
- writing and editing
- photography
- dance lessons
- 'zine-making
- gardening
- ballet barre fitness classes and personal training to get you into shape!
- tutoring in international history, psychology, English

Other things, as they come to mind, will be listed here.

Above all, I want to share whatever good and positive energy that I've picked up from my experiences on the road with my hosts. I don't care to just simply stay in a city and see sights, though that's nice; to me, the people are the most important thing, and being able to connect with them as human is the real privilege.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

North Korea, United States