CURRENT MISSION

Turning my "would like to"s into "going to"s

ABOUT ME

I appear to be going through a period of self-discovery or re-discovery and I learn something new every day. A thirst for knowledge and travel runs in the family although I tend to either move slowly or find motives to travel rather than just "having a holiday" or "getting away".

I love life. Even though I hate it sometimes, I still love it. I relish the challenges, the ups and downs, the funny way things that are meant to be just work out and how everything can be as complicated or simple as you make it.

Apparently I have an over-expressive face. I frown when I'm thinking, laugh with my eyes and cry though my nose. I'm not perfect, but don't really want to be. I want to learn and share. Everything. Storytelling is beautiful and can be done in many ways. I guess that's why I choose to couchsurf - to hear your story and tell you mine.

PHILOSOPHY

My candle burns at both ends
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -
It gives a lovely light.

Edna St.Vincent Millay

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am fairly new to couchsurfing, and up to now I have been exploring the hospitality side of it. I look forward to hosting in the future!

Interests

Live music, culture, art in all its forms, food! (cooking and eating), ecotourism & sustainability...

When I was younger my ambition was to know 9 languages by the time I died. I am still passionate about languages and always make the effort to pick up as much as possible when travelling.

• arts
• culture
• dining
• cooking
• working out
• traveling
• music
• live music
• teaching
• languages
• tourism
• ecotourism

Music, Movies, and Books

MOVIES - I love watching films. I think different styles evoke different experiences, some for their visual beauty, some for how you relate to the characters and dialogue, and some for the emotions they make you feel. Some films I could watch over and over again (and in some cases, have): Oldboy (and most other films by Park Chan Wook), Spun, Trainspotting, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pulp Fiction...

MUSIC - I am in awe of the way music can tickle me inside, fill me with energy, conjure up memories or calm me down. I have very different reactions to live and recorded music but enjoy both just as much. What I listen to varies widely, but some permanent favourites include: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Joy Division, Tom Waits, The Cramps, Interpol, Edith Piaf, Misfits, Bob Marley, Gorillaz, Pixies, Jeff Buckley, System of a Down, David Bowie, Arthur Lee & Love, Jamiroquai...

Books - Ever since I learned to read I barely put a book down. Some books and authors who really inspired or affected me: Horacio Quiroga (Tales of love, death and madness), Roald Dahl (both his children and adult literature), Vladomir Nabokov (Lolita), Herman Hesse, George Orwell, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemmingway...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I like to think that we see and do amazing things every day of our lives. It's all in the little details...

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach - I am a qualified English (TEFL) teacher, all be it a little out of practice. I am also fluent in Spanish. I'm happy to help out with either!

Learn - As much as I can of the local languages of the places I visit.

Share - Ideas and suggestions for a more sustainable lifestyle, both on a local/personal level and wider community scale. I'm particularly interested in how tourism can be turned around to benefit communities and support autonomy as opposed to creating dependency.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bolivia, China, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sri Lanka

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Gabon, New Zealand, Sao Tome and Principe, Spain

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