I lived in Japan from March 2016 till March 2025 as an English teacher, which was an amazing experience in many ways. Now I am in Taiwan, and I really love the relaxed, authentic kindness here.

I won’t be a paying member from May 13th, 2025, so feel free to message me @:

snowah @ protonmail. com

If you wanna check out some interesting cafes and museums, I'm game :)
I am an academic by training and love interesting conversations!

I like to arrange free meditation events as well as other events around Kansai, and one of my favourite things is to bring good people together.

Couchsurfing is all about co-creation,sharing and giving. I love it.

If you’re interested in Zen Buddhism/Buddhism, meditation, spirituality, etc., please let me know: it would be interesting meeting you and possibly creating spiritual community together :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because the most memorable part of traveling is the great friendships you make, and there are so many great Couchsurfers. Almost all my Japanese friends are from Couchsurfing lol ^^

Interests

Meditation, Buddhism, Zen, martial arts, badminton, hiking, nature, beaches, surfing/wiping out, Brazilian jiu-jitsu/Gracie jiu-jitsu, education, percussion, asanas and pranayama (yoga), futurism, vegan cooking, bringing good people together

• arts
• photography
• documentaries
• film making
• cooking
• vegan
• yoga
• meditation
• walking
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• kayaking
• buddhist
• martial arts
• communications

Music, Movies, and Books

Lauryn Hill is my favourite artist/singer/rapper

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In 2016 I moved to Japan in the pursuit of work, and I succeeded at establishing myself here. I do feel blessed to have taught English to so many amazing Japanese people, which is incredibly rewarding. It was amazing being a lead high school teacher in Hiroshima, as well as starting a school successfully from scratch!

Have met so many great people in Japan, a lot of them through Couchsurfing, a lot of them through my arranging of meditation get-togethers/picnics/beach days/hiking/latching onto other events that take place n Kansai.

Completed a 90-day Korean Zen Buddhist retreat in the Czec Republic.

Earned my Masters in Australia.

Worked as a cameraman and with communications on a documentary filmmaking projects, which was a tactical step in creating South Korea's first Buddhist pilgrimage, which will run 500K through Korea, from temple to temple.

Lived in a Buddhist martial arts temple in South Korea (Golgulsa), and have also lived in Kyoto, in Seoul, in Australia, in the Czech Republic and in Norway.

Was chased through the jungle of Indonesia by a huge orangutang. But that's another story (and I don't know how amazing it was) (but it's amazing to be alive).

Moved to a Soto Zen temple in Japan in 2024.

Teach, Learn, Share

I would be happy to share with you the meditation and asanas & pranayama (what is commonly referred to as 'yoga') that I know. I have a Bachelors in the Humanities, so I know a little about a lot of topics...

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can cook/do the dishes, and I have experience teaching English, which was both my professional career and kind of a hobby of mine :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malta, Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Denmark, Japan, South Korea