I grew up in Brissie in Queensland, which means everyone assumes all you do is surf and hang on the beach, when in fact the beach is a good hour or so away.

Instead I got into acting classes and physical theatre training and when I had enough of the (great for a holiday) humidity in Brisbane, I moved to Melbourne.

I've lived here almost eight years now and it's home! I love everything about it, the weather, the coffee, the festivals, the music, the people. I feel so at home that I never leave.

It's taken me five years but I've finally finished my arts degree, because who wants to be at school when there is so much to do. Now I'm thinking it's time to explore.

I'm a wannabe hippie but too clean to fully embrace it. I'm planning to move to Byron Bay on the Australian East coast or anywhere near it in the new year and will try my hardest though.

I write stories that I'm too scared to share with anyone and hope to redeem this flaw by promising to write one for anyone who puts me up.

I'm new to this, I promise I'm not some super weirdo, just a plan old average weirdo looking for someone to chat to when I get to somewhere new.

I think that is all for now.

oh.

I don't have facebook. I got rid of it about four years ago and I like being without it. The Instagram addiction is more than sufficient. Find me @m_girling

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because I don't have facebook. See above, or about.
- And so don't have the wide expanse of worldly mates to call on super easily.

Because I'm in need of someone to tell me where to go.
- I am exceptionally homey and love chilling with a book and tea on the couch. I'd love to have someone show me around now and then.

Because I think locals know best.
- self explanitory

Because I have very limited funds.
- I loathe the necessity of money (House of Cards.. anyone?)

Interests

I'm into most things that are pleasant and boring to the majority of people under 55.
Cooking, reading, walks, crafting... I actually hosted a craft and girling club for a while, wrote the very daggy newsletter, baked a rainbow cake the month we did tie-dying. Craft because it's fun. Girling because when we gave up on the projects or never got around to organising them in the first place, we'd just paint our nails and watch Clueless and giggle like little girls.

I run sometimes. I did my first half marathon a couple of months ago and killed it with surprisingly little training! 1 hour 53 minutes. I wanted to do the London Half but entries were already closed when I found it :(

I love yoga! Hot classes are my jam when it's cold, I tried aerial slash silks yoga a few months back and it was amazing too.
Otherwise I can't ride a push bike, yep... judge how you will, there is a story involved. I also can't jump vertically, higher than about 20cms. No idea why, I'm actually pretty strong.

I love coffee, food and wine. Coffee to the point of snobery . Food and wine because they are what we should live for. Good friends, good food, good times.

I like most things as long as they result in happy feels for all.

• arts
• books
• singing
• acting
• festivals
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• coffee
• yoga
• marathon
• running
• clubbing
• news
• reading
• painting
• music
• cycling
• fishing
• surfing
• teaching
• languages
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

There's not much I can't find some sort of appreciation for.

I'm an Austen sucker. Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly gets me every time. Any period drama really, his work is beautiful though.
Game of Thrones obvi.
Harry Potter.
All these places I plan on exploring as much as possibe while on this UK/Europe adventure.

Must reads..
Extrememly Loud and Incredibly Close by Johnathan Safran Foer
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
I've just got into Alain De Boton.. wow.
and I love a well written memoir.
Fiction and creative realism gets me. Realness more often than not overwhelms me.

Music loves depend heavily on my mood.
But, if you take one thing from this profile, let it be Big Scary.
A magical Melbourne based two piece growing rapidly to four for the live shows, that is constantly unexpected, entertaining and endearingly humble.
Srsly.. look them up.
(I did a vid for them called Leaving Home in 2011 to help prove I'm a real person)
Otherwise, again i'll be ridiculously generic and claim I like most things.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I had a ridiculous yet amazing role in a part podcast part musical thriller for the Melbourne Fringe Festival called POP|Press. My fabulous friend William wrote it. I spent the first few shows freaking out about the 10 seconds of rapping/singing I had to do, but the last night I got over it and just had a bloody good time!
Here's the link to a sweet review published;
http://performing.artshub.com.au/news-article/reviews/performing-arts/adelaide-fisher/poppress-249345

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd love to learn everything. Almost.
More specifically, languages, how to ride a bike, jump, how to know where I am and where I'm going (directionally speaking), surfing, how to make your favourite dish. everything.

I do want to be a primary school teacher when i'm done with this part of my adventure. I need some time looking after kids and teaching them general world stuff before I'm ready to lock myself into that. Or rather, I want some time so they can teach me their wisdom.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can cook. I would love to share that.

I am more than competent at dishing out advice whether I know anything about the subject or not. More so the latter if wine is involved. I would also love to share my (often pretend) wisdom.

I don't have a house of yet. But when I do, I'd love to get a couch and share it back.

Countries I’ve Visited

England, France, New Zealand, Scotland, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia