At 47 I realised I needed to change careers to provide for myself in my dotage. The short term insurance industry was not going to be requiring my skills for much longer, so Teaching English as a Foreign Language seemed a good choice, as I could still tutor when I am old. The opportunity to discover another country and culture was a happy bonus. It took me two years to get sorted, so leaving family and home, with my cat in tow, I landed in Phnom Penh Cambodia in 2013.
Why Cambodia? I never went to University, so with only have a TEFL certification, friendly Cambodia is one of the last few countries accepting teachers without degrees.
It is not all fun and games here. The weather is either freaking hot, or it's wet, with flooding. Traffic laws are for guidance only, and not to be taken seriously. It is the epitome of a developing country, everything is extreme - wealth, poverty, happiness, sadness, beauty and ugliness.
These only help to make the country a fascinating place to live in, and thrive.
Along the way I acquired the joy of single parenthood by foster parenting a gorgeous, intelligent, funny little girl nicknamed Sa Ly. She has made the last 8 months of my stay here bearable and focused. Parenting in your 50's is great - you have the freedom to allow the child to be themselves, and not need them to be as you think they should be. Basic good values and morals are all new humans need. The rest they will create for themselves.

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

I am an awful tourist! I never go anywhere!
Between teaching and parenting, my days and weekends are so busy I don't make the time to 'get out and about'. Joining Couch Surfing forces me to research my city, and find things to do. It gets Sa Ly and I out of the house, and especially for her young inquisitive mind, much needed new stimulation. It also helps us learn more about her country.

Intereses

Movies, reading, walking, ice cream, people, cake.

• cats
• culture
• beauty
• walking
• movies
• reading
• surfing
• teaching

Música, películas y libros

My musical taste is very broad and encompasses most genres, however most genres have instrumental music, so instrumental music is my favourite. Sometimes lyrics weigh too much.

Movies are great! Action movies are greatest!. Transporter, James Bond, Die Hard and many others are my favourites. And Mary Poppins.

Books - Jane Eyre, The Hobbit, Calvin and Hobbes

Algo increíble que he hecho

Become a foster parent to a foreign child.

Enseña, aprende, comparte

Kindness to self and other beings.

Learn from mistakes and people who enter my life.

Space.

Qué puedo ofrecer a los anfitriones

My travels.

Países que he visitado

Switzerland

Países en los que he vivido

South Africa