Hello!

I'm an Australian aidworker and professional pet groomer.

Some interests: History, arts (I weave), anthropology, sociology, psychology and languages. Cycling, squash, bouldering, mountain biking, scubadiving. I'm a novice Non-Violent Communication practitioner and longform writer and storyteller by nature.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To connect deeply with people on the things that matter. I really enjoy seeing new and unfamiliar places through the lens of locals and never fail to see my everyday reality and spaces differently through the lens of a visitor.

I'm usually on Couchsurfing to connect and meet up, which is why I do not have many references - however I DO have international friends on here with many references who can vouch that I'm kinda sorta alright.

I'm a sociable ambivert backpacker-type who would like to pay kindness, generousity and hospitality forward to fellow travellers. 😊 I can't host at the moment for several reasons (including a mosquito-infested garden jungle and an indifferent landlord). But I can gladly give recommendations and when I'm at home, share a meal and my favourite places and activities.

I am open to meeting people in public places. Even if you're not in a position to kindly host me, I'd just as much like to meet up for a chat over tea or a walk, particularly in Devon.

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
Soul, blues and rock in general. David Bowie, The Cranberries, Florence and The Machine, Black Pumas, Alabama Shakes. But open-minded - I learned piano for 10 years and like Debussy and Rachmaninoff.

Movies:
Foreign movies and documentaries. I'm a bookworm podcast listener. After a very simple pared-back life in the Pacific, choosing what TV or movies to watch still lurches me into decision paralysis so I prefer articles and books.

Reading: Non-fiction or the work of women in particularly interesting lines of work. Favourite reads include Clea Koff's The Bone Woman and the reportage of Marie Colvin.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Met a family of orcas underwater in a bay while scuba diving in Papua New Guinea on a miserable cold rainy day. Beginners luck.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teaching:
See 'What I can share with hosts'.

Learning:
I am trying to improve my French (perpetually stuck at B1), I'm also learning Persian and Arabic.

Share:
Let's have a chat over a walk or local snack and drink and go from there. Please note: I'm happily and resolutely in a long-term relationship with myself. We're very happy and completely incapable of looking after ourselves on a good day (let alone another human bean) so we care for animals and plants instead.

What I Can Share with Hosts

- Some of the housework and/or gardening. If you say there's no need, I will sneakily do it anyway.
- Help with meal prep and dishwashing. If you trust me to flavour or cook the food, I can't guarantee it'll be edible.
- Walk, entertain and clean up any mucky animals in your household, or that of your friends and family
- Hang out with your children so you get some time to yourself 😄. I particularly like toddler energy - provides a great night's sleep
- Tutor English language, teach beginner Japanese and Arabic script
- Teach beginner piano/keyboard

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Iraq, Japan, Micronesia, Federated States of, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tunisia, Uzbekistan