CURRENT MISSION

OMW to become a clueless Asian girl backpacking around the world, picking up odd jobs.

ABOUT ME

I was born in Korea, raised in Cambodia and currently live in the U.S. In that sense, I'm pretty international. I thought I could settle down at a place after finishing my studies but there are just too many places to see in this world so I'm going to try and make this travel plan I have, happen.

I blog at summerinsea.com where you can read a little more about me and what I like but briefly:

I'm a traveler, I love brunch, I eat almost anything & everything, I drink my coffee black & fair trade, I sip my whiskey straight-up, wine tasting is an addiction, I love to dance, I go to networking events & conferences just for fun and I love meeting new people. I work in the travel industry as a marketing specialist and volunteer at Hostelling International Boston.

PHILOSOPHY

Tough one. But I definitely try to focus on the small details and live in the present. Once you focus on the little things, you realize how much you have to be grateful for. Also, I truly believe that no experience is ever wasted - good or bad.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I HATE being a burden or getting in people's way. So when I couchsurf, I always make sure I thank them by helping around the house, making sure I am neat and depending on the experience, leave a small gift at the end. It's all about give and take - or else the system doesn't work. I expect the same level of respect when I'm hosting.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Mostly I stay with friends and friends of friends but I'd love to take this opportunity to meet some great people around the world. I love couch surfing with people that introduce me to their daily routines but I'm also independent and know when to give the hosts some personal space. It's all about the balance!

Hosted: 19
Surfed: 2

Interests

I love walking and taking photos. I am a blogger so I naturally like to write a lot. When I have a bit of free time, I'll go on a yoga-binge, taking up to two classes in a row, everyday. I love anything outdoorsy and try to stay active during my travels. I'm always open to trying new things too! Although it was a while ago, I used to play basketball, football (soccer), volleyball so if anyone wants to go out for a mini game, I'd love to!

I also enjoy a little bit of creativity. I have a weakness for awesome live music, great musical productions, photography, art museums, dance, etc.

• arts
• photography
• dancing
• human rights
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• coffee
• wine tasting
• fitness
• yoga
• walking
• drinking
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• live music
• piano
• backpacking
• surfing
• basketball
• soccer
• volleyball
• communications
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I have a wide range of interests when it comes to movies/music/books - it really depends on my mood but my all time favorite go-to genres are anything contemporary and documentaries. I love a good Coelho book and anything beautiful

But don't get me wrong, I love a good chick flick and comedy as well.

All-time faves:

Books: Veronika Decides to Die, Perfume, Like Water for Chocolate, Kitchen, etc.

Movie: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Waking Life, Samsara, anything travel-related (but much more - I love watching films - oh, one thing though, I can't watch ANY bloody or violent films.. I really can't)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Not really an amazing thing I've done but one of the most eye opening experiences is volunteering at UNICEF while I was in Cambodia last summer. It was beyond just traveling to the country - finding out about the economical situation of the country and getting to witness first-hand some of the human rights issues that exist in the world - definitely something I'll never forget. If you have a few months, definitely look into working with organizations (instead of volunteering at an orphanage - I am strongly against that) since you learn so much more.

Teach, Learn, Share

I speak: Korean, English, Khmer
I can play: Piano, flute
I can go to: yoga, dance, any fitness classes with you
I can discuss: anything social media, communications, nonprofit, CSR, social enterprise, human rights, volunteer, travel related topics
I can cook: Korean food
I can share: Wine & awesome conversations :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Cambodia, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, Singapore, South Korea, United States