CURRENT MISSION
To enjoy life, la dolce vita!

ABOUT ME

I have been living in Palermo, Sicily teaching English since September 2017 and absolutely love it here. Friends say that I'm an outgoing, upbeat, positive person, with lots of energy and enthusiasm for life. I am quite a social person, but also like quiet moments looking at a beautiful sunset or reading a book. I am considerate and sensitive with friends and am very loyal, always try my best to be supportive if anyone needs help. I love to live life to the full, and really enjoy beautiful scenery and meeting interesting people from all walks of life. I also really enjoy sailing, and have been on some great trips with friends on week long charters on the Med in Europe and Turkey, also a few one-off day races when in Australia. I'm a long-time vegetarian, but I have no issues with people other people eating as much meat as they like :-) .

I spent a couple of years teaching English at a school in Kuwait, but am now living in Palermo, Sicily, enjoying the amazing architecture and the beautiful culture, history and scenery . One recent Christmas and New Year I was in Sri Lanka and met lots of Couchsurfers, both locals, expats and other travellers and can truly say it was one of my best holidays, thanks to the wonderful people I met there, and am still in touch with many of them.

PHILOSOPHY

Live and let live, live for today, YOLO - make the most of life, You Only Live Once) (maybe? ;-) Be as good a person as I can be. Be happy, be considerate, be fun. Be in the moment. The writings of Eckhart Tolle have made a big impact on my life and outlook, but also Buddhism and other philosophies that encourage appreciation of the beauty of nature, being in the now, and not constantly on the 'mobile'.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love to meet new and interesting people through couchsurfing, most people I have stayed with or met through CS are now friends.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My experience of Couchsurfing in many countries, either staying with people or meeting them socially from the CS meetup groups and forums has been really positive. I have met some wonderful people who I am still friends with. It has been a great experience.

Interests

I love travelling, the arts, literature, theatre, particularly live music. I have a wide ranging taste in music, though Ska is my favourite genre, I have very eclectic tastes, it means a lot to me, so going to see live bands, whether it is jazz, classical, punk or americana, music is something I am passionate about. I enjoy the cinema, from art house European cinema to American Pie, so again, quite eclectic. I love to see the beauty in nature and have been lucky to see some amazing sights on my travels. Meeting people is something that I really enjoy, one of the joys of travelling is to meet new friends. I don't eat meat, but like good fresh food. Meeting up with friends old or new, over a glass of wine or beer, preferably in front of a beautiful sunset is bliss.

• arts
• books
• literature
• beauty
• cooking
• vegetarian
• meditation
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• drawing
• music
• live music
• sailing
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Soooo many! For books both classics, contemporary to postmodernism and a lot in between. Jose Saramago, Paul Auster, Jane Austen, Brontes, Camus, Alain Robbe Grillet, anything challenging and interesting, 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' and 'Vernon God Little' are contemporary favourites. Films: 'In Bruges' 'Fight Club', 'Being John Malkovich', 'Dude Where's My Car' 'Lars and the Real Girl'. Lots of great films, old and new... love the cinema when it's done well.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The Golden Temple at Amritsar in India was a very amazing place. It is visually stunning, but more than that, also has something about it that is indefinable, but has an almost tangibly wonderful and calming atmosphere. Also in India, was some prehistoric rock art, near Bhopal, a place called Bhimbetka. The paintings are simple, but just stunning. You can walk up close to see them, they are in the open to view and are just incredible, I was blown away by them. Closer to home, the rocks at Kynance Cove in Cornwall also have some magical draw. They are beautiful and also seem to have some kind of aura about them. When the tide is coming in, they become even more beautiful than when surrounded by golden sand. More recently, Machu Picchu - of course! But also Isla Del Sol on Lake Titicaca had a magical tranquility about it.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am an English teacher, both in England in schools and now as a CELTA qualified teacher of English as a second language to adults and children, for the last 2 years in Kuwait. I am just about to start a new role in Palermo, Sicily. I love to learn about other people's interests and life stories, how they come to be where they are. I like people with a story to tell, hopefully some funny ones as well. I am a very positive person and enjoy life to the full, I love sharing a love of life with others.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share information about various places around the world, a shared enjoyment of life. I can help hosts with English if they want. I can cook, I like to help around the house for hosts and be generally useful and hopefully good company .

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Kuwait, United Kingdom

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