Hi! I’m Michelle, 36 years old from England, UK. I left London a few months ago to venture on a year-long adventure in New Zealand to discover its wildlife, hiking trails, history and culture. It's been amazing! As I am travelling about the country I do not have fixed accommodation, so unfortunately can't host anyone, but am definitely up for hanging out if our paths cross!

I am a kind, empathic, open minded and respectful person. I also love life, learning, talking about anything and everything (silly or serious) and having a good laugh! It would be lovely to stay with and meet people along the way in New Zealand who have some spare time to chat, hangout together and have fun, whether it's chilling on the sofa, watching a film, going on a hike, having a deep conversation or eating together. I'd also love to cook for any hosts my awesome quesadillas if you would like them 😊.

Although I'm taking time out of work for my trip, I usually work in environmental education and community outreach, helping connect people to their local greenspaces, history and culture. I am incredibly passionate about protecting the environment.

I am generally a vegetarian but can be flexible with this. I also don't drink alcohol, but I can still be the life and soul of a party if the atmosphere calls for it 😊. I am a very respectful and clean person.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love meeting people from all walks of life; geeking out over our common interests, and learning more about ourselves and the world through our differences. I have great memories from being hosted and from Couchsurfing meetups in Germany, Croatia, the Netherlands, Denmark, California and the UK.

I've had a long break from Couchsurfing after a particularly bad past experience with a male host. I'm looking forward to putting my trust back in the process and meeting amazing people!

Interests

I absolutely love hiking in nature and spying on wildlife. I enjoy dancing (my own weird moves but also salsa), reading, cinema, live music and comedy, playing music (singing, piano and guitar), travel, connecting with people from all walks of life, chatting and drinking tea! Oh, and my friends would say I'm a bit obsessed with the Tudor time period!

• wildlife
• culture
• singing
• dancing
• dining
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• piano
• hiking
• history
• volunteering
• gigs
• comedy
• socialising
• bird watching

Music, Movies, and Books

I am a nerd and am often not cultured in my choices. Luckily this doesn't stop me; I like what I like and have no shame!

Movies: Wayne's World, Edward Scissor Hands, GREASE 2 (...discuss!), The Rocky Horror Picture Show, zombie movies

TV: Twin Peaks, Pokémon, The Royle Family, Alan Partridge, Xena Warrior Princess, Sex and the City, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I listen to all sorts of music and I read a lot! I'm always looking for new music and book recommendations :).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Studying wild spotted hyenas in the Masai Mara and Serengeti is high up on the list for me.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you, your friends/family, or a community group you're a part of, would like a talk on spotted hyenas I am very happy to share my love and experience of working with them in the wild! I'll have my PowerPoint presentation coming with me 🤓 (see photo in profile from when I recently did a talk for my local Women's Institute group). I also love learning so it would be great to hear about your passions and interests!

I am also very happy to cook some meals. I'm no chef but I must admit my quesadillas are epic! I am also very happy to help with cleaning or gardening.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am a very clean and respectful surfer who is not using this as a way to save money on accommodation. I genuinely love connecting with new people, seeing local areas through their eyes, and sharing our interests and views.

Countries I’ve Visited

Botswana, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Malta, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Kenya, Tanzania, United Kingdom