A qualified early childhood teacher from New Zealand. Planning on meeting interesting people and attending music concerts.

I live in Wellington and spent my teenage years growing up in Nelson. I worked various jobs after school - supermarkets, construction, working for the railways - before deciding that teaching young children would be the perfect way to have fun while making a positive difference to people's lives.

After volunteering as a support worker on an Outward Bound course in October I decided to pursue more of that kind of thing - meeting new people and listening to their story, spending time in the outdoors, taking small risks every day.

Since then I've been making efforts to put myself in new situations more often.

Pourquoi je suis sur Couchsurfing

I've often lived in very social flats that have had frequent guests staying (usually bands on tour, crashing in our lounge after a gig). I enjoy meeting people and hearing their stories and sharing meals with them.

Although I've not hosted through Couch Surfing, I am well used to having strangers stay over at my house. Some of these strangers have become great friends, and hopefully Couch Surfing can provide a good platform for me to make more good friends in America.

Centres d'intérêt

I love music and run a music blog (willnotfade.com), which involves reviewing albums, interviewing artists, and reviewing and photographing concerts. My niche focus is post-rock music, but I try to cover a variety of other genres.

I also play drums. I haven't been in a band for a while, but love to have a jam when the opportunity arises. One time when I was 17, my dad and I built a stage atop the roof of our house and my friends and I played a gig to all of our family friends who watched from the backyard.

I believe that being active and getting outdoors is an essential aspect of life, so spend many weekends running and hiking along trails in the wilderness. One cool event I've competed in with my dad over the past few years is the Coast to Coast, which involves cycling, running and kayaking from one side of the country to the other.

• photography
• cooking
• blogging
• live music
• trail running
• teaching
• drumming
• tramping

Morceaux de musique, films et livres

I love music so much that I started a blog about it. Get me started and I'll talk for days. Favourite bands include Biffy Clyro, Frank Turner, Shihad and Rise Against.

I like reading classic novels and biographies about people I admire. My favourite book is Born to Run, which looks at how humankind has evolved as runners. I like stories that explore how much we can achieve when pushed outside of our comfort zone, and the exciting adventures that happen because of it.

As for movies, you can't go wrong with a good action flick. The Raid is an Indonesian martial arts film that I rate as one of my favourites. I also keep up with many of the latest animated films, being an early childhood teacher.

Une aventure extraordinaire que j'ai vécue

In Japan I climbed Mt Fiji overnight with a super full moon lighting the way.

In America I summited Mt Washington and Katahdin - the highest peaks in New Hampshire and Maine, respectively.

Enseignez, apprenez, partagez

One of the key reasons that I have decided to go travelling this year is because I want to see other people's way of life.

As cheesy as it sounds, I want to experience different cultures, and share my own. I want to see how you live, and would love to reciprocate by telling you about my life in New Zealand.

I especially love spending time helping people in the kitchen and sharing cooking techniques (soon followed by sharing a meal!) I'm happy to head to a restaurant too if that's more your style.

What I have been doing recently is baking pavlova for my hosts. Pavlova is a New Zealand dessert similar to meringue. If you have an electric beater I'll happily make you one.

While by no means professional, I'd like to think that I can take a good photograph. I often get press passes to shoot concerts, and enjoy taking photos of nature in my spare time. I'm happy to take some portraits or other photos if that takes your fancy.

And if you play music I'd love to have a jam. I don't need a full drum kit - slapping a cardboard box percussively can work just as well.

Ce que j'aimerais partager avec mes hôtes

Good conversation, help in the kitchen, and top quality babysitting services!

I also make pavlova for all my hosts - a New Zealand dessert similar to meringue

Pays que j'ai visités

Australia, Canada, Fiji, Japan, United States

Pays dans lesquels j'ai vécu

New Zealand