Since I recently reconnected with multiple CS friends I made from 2010 and found out CS is actually not dead, I'm now back on CS after an 11-year hiatus as some of my best travel memories were through this platform.

Now I'm boosted 2x, I'm ready to travel albeit slowly*, meet other like-minded individuals or housesit/pet sit before I potentially move back to London!

Please note I do not have my own place to host as I'm staying at family's. I have hosted several of my past CS hosts in return/traveled/met up with them even 11 years later.

Please see my Couchsurfing Legacy profile here; I'm now an INFJ from having lived in London for ~10 years and working as an epidemiologist remotely for the UK government agency:
https://www.couchsurfing.com/users/1312723/profile/legacy

**below was written in 2010/11-keeping it for memory sake**

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I help out when I can. I pass the kindness I've experienced in CS to good people.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I believe that it's the people you meet in your travel that matter more than the destination itself. Through CS, I have made lasting friendships, been introduced to my future partner (inside joke from my host), seen a CSer walked over to have sex with our host :O, socialized and partied until 6:30am, eaten pig brain sausages, visited off-limit natural reserve areas restricted to military personnel, to name a few. Even though there have been unpleasant experiences, I cannot travel without CS--it brings people together and allows one to experience the real local culture. Though I don't appreciate getting "hey baby, let's meet up" emails from random CSers whenever I'm in France.

Interests

Research on happiness :)
Going to new places
Movies
Photography
Nature
Great food, music and places
Outdoor adventure

Music, Movies, and Books

Book: Eat, Pray, Love--and I got to work on Elizabeth Gilbert's (the author of this book) magazine article!
Music: Calogaro's Pomme C, ambient, pop, rap, alternative rock, ska
Movies: Too many to list

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have sooo many so I cannot list just one.

I went alone to Italy without knowing the language and where I will be staying or heading to the next day. I decided at the train station which city to go to next and showed up in each city after the first one without any accommodation booked. I was particularly fond of Cinque Terre and there was no available accommodation to be booked online, but I went anyway. Pretty soon the fear I had of turning up in each city without any plan and accommodation melted away and I enjoyed the freedom and spontaneity. I met some of the friendliest people on earth ever and had a blast. It was the best adventure in my life. All this took place when I received bad news of my father--I wanted to go home immediately, but I remained strong and carried on after checking in with him and had his blessing. I came out from this trip stronger and more confident. I learned a lot about myself and what's truly important in life.

Winning a housing lottery and bought a brand new condo with a beautiful view of San Francisco City Hall on my 25th birthday.

Leaped off a pole and was able to stick my sticker on a buoy in the air hanging 15 feet away in my outdoor adventure class, with my eyes closed. That was the "Leap of Faith" or death if your rope breaks!

Teach, Learn, Share

I was a cooking teacher in the foodie center of San Francisco (but it doesn't mean I'm an expert) and I've taught several different languages like Mandarin and Japanese.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States