I am a PhD researcher from Britain, now living in Belgium. I study multilateral environmental negotiations, so I travel a lot with my work (which suits me just fine). My previous CV includes English teaching, running summer schools for international teenagers, looking after an alpaca farm and lots and lots of travelling!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

For me, travelling is less about seeing different places, and more about exchanges with different people. The most rewarding thing about travelling is meeting new people, from different cultures, with different perspectives on the world, but (often) with the same curiosity and open mind. And of course, a bit of local know-how always comes in useful!

Interests

Food. Eating it, sharing it, cooking it, learning about it. My boyfriend is a cook (lucky me!), so I love to bring back recipes from all around the world for him to try.

Languages. I speak several languages already, studied linguistics at university and spent several years teaching English. I always try to learn some of the local language when I visit a new country.

Politics. I know it can be a touchy subject, but my research is based in international relations and I live and breath politics! I'm particularly interested in international cooperation, and my research looks specifically at ways in which the countries chairing international negotiations can affect outcomes. But if you're not into politics, you can tell me to shut up and I won't take offence.

The environment. I'm a nature lover and my research centres on neegotiations concerning environmental issues like climate change, disposal of chemicals and trade in endangered species. I'm interested in how we can work together as an international community to protect our precious planet (or at least mess it up as little as possible), and also in individual efforts to live in a more sustainable way. But again, if that's not your thing then won't preach. ;-)

Travelling. Fun, demanding, rewarding, and good for the soul!

• books
• dancing
• environment
• dining
• wine
• beer
• partying
• politics
• traveling
• music
• teaching
• international relations
• languages
• food
• nature
• sustainability
• multilateralism
• international cooperation

Music, Movies, and Books

I love music and spend a lot of my free time completely absorbed in it. Some genres that I particularly enjoy include trip-hop, electronica, hip-hop (without the misogyny, please), world, reggae/dub, classical, turntablism. Think The Roots, Bonobo, The Do, Fela Kuti, Flying Lotus, Mungo's Ho Fi, Quantic, Tribe Called Quest, Portico Quartet.

I find I don't have much time for films these days (sadly), but some of my favourites of the top of my head include Betty Blue, Amelie, La Fille sur le Pont, American Beauty, The Usual Suspects, Shawshank Redemption, Buffalo 66, Withnail and I, The Full Monty, Todo Sobre Mi Madre.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I lived in a convent in a remote outer island of Vanuatu for nine months.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm always interested in teaching and learning languages.

Food - whether it's sharing a meal together or teaching recipes.

Sharing views on the world - what's good in it, what's going wrong, and what can we do to improve it. All thoughts welcome!

What I Can Share with Hosts

As well as working as an English teacher, I've also worked as a proof-reader, translator, copy-writer and editor. I can make your English amazing!

I'm happy to share my knowledge of other languages, and to offer translation between languages that I speak.

Opinions, stories, speculation and good intentioned ramblings.

A big smile, a happy disposition and bags of enthusiasm! :-D

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Chile, Réunion, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vanuatu