"When life comes knocking at your door. Open it".

A wise man once said about Couchsurfing (FL, 2024)

"EXPECT NOTHING and APPRECIATE EVERYTHING!"

Hello! I'm Julie 😊

I am SO grateful 💙💙 for the CS 🛋️🛋️ opportunities that I have had.

I was a teacher for over 25 years. Now I travel, write and volunteer.

Meeting interesting and like minded travellers. 🌍🌍 I am VERY HAPPILY MARRIED.

Couchsurfing is a great community that I am proud to be part of.

I HOST

(PLEASE READ MY HOME SECTION. THERE ARE IMPORTANT DETAILS FOR SURFERS)

If you are in London for a while, COME AND VISIT US. We will give you a proper local, TRADITIONAL COUNTRYSIDE EXPERIENCE.

** I live on the ESSEX WAY, a LONG DISTANCE COUNTY FOOTPATH. Perfect for surfers walking from HARWICH to EPPING. We possibly can host more people if you let us know**

I SURF

(South America, Europe, Asia and Africa so far) and...

I LEAD COUCHSURFING EVENTS in my local area of Essex.
This has been a great experience, meeting so many different people and making new friends. We are often joined by visiting Couchsurfers.

I HAVE JUST ACHIEVED MY DREAM TO BECOME A COUCHSURFING AMBASSADOR.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE - January 2024 ( yes it took 8 years before I used Couchsurfing)

I was hosted for the first time by Salem in Saudi Arabia. I had visited the country previously but It was an amazing first experience of Couch Surfing. IT WAS MY 103 COUNTRY! 🇸🇦!

Now I am up to COUNTRY 120 - ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼

🌍🌍 UPCOMING TRAVELS 🌎🌎

AUG 2025 - 🇦🇩Andorra🇦🇩 ☑️

SEP 2025 - 🇫🇮Finland🇫🇮 ☑️ 🇸🇪Sweden🇸🇪 ☑️

NOV 2025 - 🇿🇦South Africa🇿🇦 ☑️🇿🇼 Zimbabwe🇿🇼☑️
🇱🇸Lesotho 🇱🇸 ☑️

DEC 2025 - 🇲🇿Mozambique🇲🇿 ☑️, 🇹🇿Tanzania🇹🇿
🇰🇲Comoros🇰🇲, 🇧🇮Burundi🇧🇮
🇷🇼Rwanda🇷🇼, 🇺🇬Uganda🇺🇬

JAN 2026 - 🇺🇬Uganda🇺🇬.🇨🇮Ivory Coast 🇨🇮
🇲🇷Mauritania 🇲🇷

NOV 2026 🇬🇲Gambia🇬🇲

About me..

I would describe myself as a dreamer, independent, open minded, compassionate, adventurous.

For me travel is enriched by MEETING PEOPLE who live in the country I travel to.

🌳💚IMPORTANT: I eat mainly VEGETARIAN FOOD.
This is a personal choice. My husband eats everything so I am not judgemental or wanting to be judged. 💚🌳

I have been lucky to have been travelling for over 3 decades. In some ways I am very organised and disciplined, in others I like to see what opportunities arise and JUST SAY YES! Go with the flow, don't worry.

I think I am a good communicator and often prefer to listen. But I am confident too.

I LOVE BEING OUT IN NATURE. 🌲🌲🌊🌊🏜️🏜️ It fills me with wonder, peace and appreciation. Oceans, hills, deserts, forests.

I have a languages book 📘📘📘 that travels with me that has beautiful entries from friends I have made. Many pieces in different scripts.

I love photography, 📷📷 even if I just have my phone to use

WHY I TRAVEL AS A COUCHSURFER...

December 2023- I returned from my first trip to Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦 with a friend. We organised it ourselves and one night I was invited to join a group of ladies at a Wedding Party by one of the husbands. My male friend went with him and I walked alone into the female area. The encounter that followed with these ladies was precious beyond words but required COURAGE TO WALK IN.

It's these kind of experiences I am interested in. Meeting and connecting with people. Finding similarities and respecting differences.

2025 - MY COUCH SURFING LIFE 🛋️🛋️😊🌍🌎🌏
(Feel free to skip!)

(🛋️ 2024 is in my Home Section 🛋️)

🇬🇧 Jan 2025 - Hosted Joey 🇺🇲, my wonderful host from Bahrain 🇧🇭. It felt like being with family. Walk by the coast ⛵⛵ lunch at a traditional, local pub 🍻and a cosy evening by the fire 🔥 Perfect!
🇬🇧 Jan 2025 - Surfed with my CS buddy Maryam 🇮🇷 at Joanna's 🇬🇧 in Norfolk. Great conversations, generosity, fascinating facts and a delicious Iranian Tahchin. Hugely enjoyable.
🇬🇧 Jan 2025 - Hosted Eli 🇧🇷 and Cris 🇷🇴. Wonderful Romanian feast 🍷🍷 and a drive through the English countryside 🌳🌳in an Austin Seven car. 🚙🚙
🇬🇧 Jan 2025 - COUCHSURFING MEET UP - Manningtree. A beautiful and fun day by the water with Andrew 🇱🇨 Aysha 🇮🇳, Cris 🇬🇧🇷🇴, Cris 🇷🇴 Sanjana 🇮🇳, Shady 🇪🇬 and Yilam 🇭🇰. (Andre and Laura guest VIPs).
🇮🇶 Jan 2025 - Iraq - Hosted by Adil, Baghdad. Incredible person to spend time with. So kind Lemon 🍋 🍋 tea, grape 🍇 🍇 juice, best falafel ever!
🇮🇶 Jan 2025 - Iraq - Hosted by Ahmed, Baghdad. What an experience. So generous! And the most amazing memories of his family. ♥️♥️
🇮🇶 Jan 2025 - Iraq - Hosted by Mohammed, Samarra. Unforgettable experience with his beautiful mum and sisters, ♥️♥️ discussions with his Uncle and cousins . The Malwiya mosque was my dream. I felt so lucky.
🇮🇶 Feb 2025 - Iraq - Hosted by Layla and her wonderful family in Mosul. Layla, an inspiration 😍😍. So kind. ❤️❤️ Thanks for helping me to see the real Mosul. the Yazidi of Bahzani and Christians ⛪⛪of Bakhida.
🇧🇷 Feb 2025 - Brazil. 🌴🐟 Hosted by Eli in Recife Meeting his wonderful family, visiting his school and experiencing Carnival. 🎊🎉🎊🎉 Incredible experience!
🇧🇷 Feb 2025 - Brazil -Hosted by the amazing musician Jario 🎶🎶 and his friend Leandro. Fantastic time!
🇧🇷 Feb 2025 - Brazil -Meeting other Brazilian CS including Wellington and Ambassador Djah.
🇮🇱 Mar 2025 - Israel -Meeting the poorly but legendary Freddy Lubin in Galilee , Israel. Exploring the beautiful area around Lake Galilee.
🇬🇧 Mar 2025 - Hosting Lenny 🇩🇪🇨🇭 Pubs, breweries, Mersea Island., Great times! 🍻🤠
🇬🇧 Mar 2025 - Surfed (with Lenny) in Suffolk. Hosted by Jeff, an inspiration and visionary in the beautiful countryside. 🌳💚🌳💚
🇬🇧 Mar 2025 - COUCHSURFING MEET UP - Colchester Attended by 10 people! Andrew 🇱🇨, Cris 🇷🇴, Jeff 🇬🇧, Lenny🇩🇪, Mart 🇬🇧, , Maryam 🇮🇷 Shady 🇪🇬, Shuvo 🇧🇩, Yilam 🇭🇰 and myself!
🇬🇧 April 2025 - Hosted Puneet 🇨🇦 Lovely conversation, walks 🌳, pub time 🍻 and fun at the CS Event.
🇬🇧 April 2025 - COUCHSURFING MEET UP - Papermill Lock and Finchingfield 🌞🌞🌞 with Andrew 🇱🇨, Cris 🇬🇧 🇷🇴, Mart 🇬🇧, Puneet 🇨🇦, Sunil 🇮🇳 and Yilam 🇭🇰.
🇸🇨 April 2025 - Seychelles, Mahé Isand- Hosted for dinner by Stella and Ahtee. Fantastic company, delicious food and unforgettable night on their veranda. 🌴🌴🐟🐟🍻🍻
🇸🇨 April 2025 - Seychelles, Mahé Island - I Day Hosted the amazing Leni🇩🇪🇿🇲. We enjoyed a great trip around Mahé Island. 🌴🌴🐚🐚🌊🌊. Leni is an inspiration!
🇲🇺 April 2025 - Mauritius - Hosted by the eccentric legend Michel in Floreal. Great meals, sightseeing and the best conversation. 🌴🌴🐚🐚
🇲🇺 April 2025 -Mauritius - Hosted by Melisa on an unforgettable Road Trip around Mauritius. We laughed, talked, swam and ate a lot of delicious food! 🌴🌴🍰🍰 🌊🌊🤗🤗 One of my best CS experiences because Melisa is so amazing!
🇬🇧 May 2025 - COUCHSURFING MEET UP -Blakes Wood 🌳🌳to see the bluebells 🪻🪻 with Cris 🇷🇴🇬🇧, Fenton 🐕🇬🇧, Marcella 🇧🇷 and Mart 🇬🇧
🇬🇧 June 2025 - Hosted Joey 🇺🇸 🇧🇭 again. One of my closest CS friends. A wonderful time, including exploring Lavenham.
🇬🇧 June 2025 - ESSEX and SUFFOLK CS weekend at Jeff's in Suffolk. Great company, food, walks and laughter with Andrew 🇱🇨, Cris 🇷🇴🇬🇧, Jeff 🇬🇧, Luca 🇮🇹 Mart 🇬🇧, May🇭🇰 and Yilam 🇭🇰.
🇬🇧 June 2025 - Hosted Lewis 🇫🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿. Interesting conversation and delicious food eaten outside in the garden.
🇬🇧 June 2025 - Hosted my dear hosts from Sweden 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪 -Ingrid and Jörn. Exploring local area, the local pub 🍻🍻and celebrating (early) Jörn's special birthday! 🍰🍰🍰
🇬🇧 June 2025 - Hosted Ariadna and her 16 year old son Alejandro from COLOMBIA 🇨🇴🇨🇴 🚴🚴‍♀️ who arrived by bike. A fun evening and morning spent together.
🇬🇧 July 2025 - Surfed with the legend Chris in Saxmunden, Suffolk. What didn't we talk about? 📚😉📚😉 Yarp!
🇫🇷 July 2025 - Surfed with the coolest host, Miles 🇦🇺🇫🇷 in his beautiful home in Aix En Provence. Great food, music and chats. 🍷🎶
🇬🇧 July 2025 - ESSEX AND SUFFOLK COUCHSURFING MEET UP - Colchester Castle 🏰🌳🧺 -18 wonderful people, lovely atmosphere, great sharing 🇸🇾🇮🇷🇵🇱🇿🇦🇷🇴🇭🇰🇪🇬🇧🇷🇬🇧
🇬🇧 August 2025 - Hosted Lee from Coventry 🇬🇧/the World and Mandy🇳🇿 from New Zealand/the World aka The Frugal Travellers - Lots of great conversation, beautiful shared meals, walks in nature 🦋🚜 and at the seaside 🐟🌊. They helped make the CS meet up a great success! Or did I dream it all up ..
🇬🇧 August 2025 - Hosted Jeff 🌳🚜🇬🇧 with Lee and Mandy. Great conversation, food, a fire and the stars. Jeff definitely brought his 'Legendness' with him!
🇬🇧 August 2025 - ESSEX AND SUFFOLK COUCHSURFING MEET UP - Walton on the Naze to Frinton on Sea - 15 wonderful people and a dog 🇭🇰🇪🇬🇷🇴🇸🇾🇳🇿🇮🇷🇬🇧 for our walk and picnic (and swimming in the sea. 🐟🐚⛵🌊).
🇦🇩 August 2025 - Day hosted by the remarkable Sandra 🇪🇸🇬🇹 🏔️, a welcoming, fun, humble warrior. Her hosting made my stay in Andorra special. I loved the Hot Pools!
🇦🇩 August 2025 - Hosted Hui Ying 🇹🇼 in my hotel room in Andorra. 😃 She is an impressive, tenacious traveller/hitch hiker. Very sweet and appreciative. Great fun!
🇬🇧 August 2025 - Couchsurfing Event - Pizza 🍕and Movie 🎥- organised by Marcela. Great fun, seeing Marcela. 🇧🇷 and Ross 🇬🇧 again. Meeting Caitlin 🇬🇧, Giancarlo 🇮🇹, Oliver 🇮🇹 and Simon 🇬🇧.
🇬🇧 August 2025 - Surfed with Marcela ☀️🇧🇷k after event who next morning prepared a gorgeous breakfast 🤗 for me, Caitlin, Ross and their Surfers Margot and Quentin 🇫🇷.
🇬🇧 August 2025 - Surfed with wonderful Amanda 💙 at Frinton on Sea. A lovely but too brief visit. Great conversation, chips, Naze Tower visit and walks by the sea. 🌊⛵🐟
🇫🇮 Sept 2025 - Surfed with Antti, Maria and Seena in Hattula, Finland. Walks in magical forests, 🌲🌲great conversation, delicious food (incl. Chanterelle mushrooms from their garden) and my first Finnish Sauna.
🇫🇮 Sept 2025 - Surfed with Simo in Tampere, Finland.- Stimulating conversation, Pike 🎣🎣 caught by Simo for dinner and a cosy cabin by the lake to sleep in. 🌲🌲
🇫🇮 Sept 2025 - Surfed with Risto - Matti.in Littoisten, near Turku, Finland. Relaxation, 🌲🌲walks by lake, birds, Japanese dinner 🇯🇵🇯🇵 with Shota, Rainbow Trout and Finnish beer! 🍻🍻
🇸🇪 Sept 2025 - Surfed (again) with Ingrid and Jörn - Fun road trip from 🇸🇪(west) Stockholm to (east)🇸🇪 Höganäs with my amazing hosts. Sauna and sea swimming with Ingrid. So many wonderful experiences!
🇬🇧 Oct 2025 - Jeff Fest 2 - Having a great lunch cooked by Jeet 🇮🇳 at Jeff's farm. Lavenham Day Out, Sleep over,Countryside walks! Raised money for Kurdish Cats.
🇬🇧 Nov 2025 - COUCHSURFING EVENT - Local walk, pub followed by fireworks and food!
Hosted the legends Don 🇿🇦 and Chris 🇬🇧 at our Cosy Cottage. 🍻 Raised money for Kurdish Cats.
🇿🇦 Nov 2025 - Surfed with Nash at Don's. Every day we had amazing adventures with our incredible host. 🤗🌊🇿🇦

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

To meet inspirational people, to learn from them and spend time with them. 😊

To push my limits by saying yes! Even if I go outside of my comfort zone.💯

To meet creative people, I love to write and listen to world music (despite not playing an instrument).😊🥰🎻

I am LEADING MULTIPLE COUCH SURFING EVENTS IN MY AREA 🇬🇧🇬🇧 to give back to this wonderful community... countryside walks, folk nights, watching Morris Dancing.
Also in the past I have hosted international friends before CS, including someone from Madagascar. 🇲🇬🇲🇬

兴趣

Travel 🌎
Meeting people from different cultures
Planning travel 🌎
Writing (Book 1 is in progress, Book 2 is in progress in my head 😂).
Travel as much as possible on a budget 😍
Reading📗
Travel vlogs and podcasts 🌎
World cuisine 🥑🧀🍍
World music 🎷🎻🎼

• writing
• poetry
• reading
• traveling
• folk music
• world music
• hiking
• art
• nature
• people
• theatre
• conversation
• kindness
• museums
• galleries
• listening
• gratitude
• giving back
• inspirational people
• travel vlogs
• planning a trip
• oceans and seas
• stars and the moon
• walking in magical places
• our beautiful planet

音乐、电影和书籍

I like world, classical and Indie music .

Movies: Godfather 1 and 2, Gladiator, Elf
Shawshank redemption...has one of my favourite quotes
"You've got to get busy living, or get busy dying".

I have read a lot of classical literature.
I also adore travel writing.
I ALSO ADORE BOOKS THAT GIVE YOU A NEW PERSPECTIVE!!
Can I RECOMMEND the book War Doctor by Doctor David Nott...After reading this my life changed forever.

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

Can I choose 2 😂

I helped raise enough money for 6 SURGEONS TO BE TRAINED IN TRAUMA MEDICINE. They then can train others to help deal with the awful injuries suffered by civilians in War Zones. (Charity: David Nott Foundation).

I went to MEDINA , SAUDI ARABIA IN DEC 2023 with my dear friend and spent time visiting many mosques on MY BIRTHDAY!🇸🇦🇸🇦

教，学，和分享

I can help you with travel tips and advice. 🌎

I can help you with English, as an ex teacher and being TEFLA qualified.👩‍🏫

I can learn from you, everyone has something to share. I can listen carefully. 😍

I can share some of my favourite stories from my travels. 🌎

我可以与沙发主分享些什么

I AM VERY ENCOURAGING, if you need that final push to act, I am the person who can help.

My mantra is IF NOT NOW, WHEN? To help people realise that action is needed, life is precious, short and sometimes we need to live it for those who can't.

I love to laugh, I am humorous apparently!

I am a considerate guest, who is willing to help.

I am open minded and can share many stories from my travels.

我游览过的国家

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Wales, Zambia, Zimbabwe

我居住过的国家

England, Macedonia