CURRENT MISSION

an authentic life filled with positivity, creativity, and fun times.

ABOUT ME

australian native (with ancestral roots in Ukraine)... my background is in public health/research but teaching has allowed me to relocate in Kyiv which I absolutely love. You will find me hanging about detoxing after school, or with my friends, who i adore... Live with my husband, who is an Ukrainian artist; so if you are into art, we are very happy to show you around and especially the 18+ artists' studios (formerly located at the St Andrew's Descent).

PHILOSOPHY

with our thoughts we make the world...be the change you want to see in the world

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Very willing to show you Kyiv, and hope you will love it as much as I do.. I also am letting as many people I know learrn about the wonderful CS organisation...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
I have hosted people in the past, some of whom have remained my friends. We are currently renovating, so for the time being not hosting; but I would be pleased to show you around Kyiv, especially during the summer months (other times, time-allowing).

Interests

chatting (philosophising) over wine and olives, my friends, listening to nice music, culture & arts, happy to be just "now"

• arts
• culture
• wine
• music
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies - Strawberry and Chocolate, The Gods Must Be Crazy, The Piano Tuner (dir. Kira Muratova), Il Postino, Zemlya ("Earth" by Dovzhenko, but "Earth" by Deepa Mehta is also incredible), The Man Without a Past, No Man's Land, Joyeux Noel, Il Postino, Rabbit-Proof Fence was pretty good, and Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress....

Books i loved -Catch 22 and Catcher in the Rye, Rushdie's "Haroun and the Ocean Book of Stories", Gaza Blues, mostly anything by Graham Greene and Milan Kundera, Pride and Prejudice (I just can't help it), and of the poets - Bruce Dawe, Pablo Neruda, Pier Paolo Pasolini

and music - The Doors, Crowded House, Inti Illimani, Astor Piazzolla, The Cure, Zdob di Zub, Okeyan Elzy, The Fine Young Cannibals, and Sting!

plus much more, but i can't remember it right now due to my (almost-young age) onset of dementia....

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I guess one image that was really inspiring was taking part in the Reconciliation March over the Sydney Harbour Bridge a few years back - i don't know it was about a half million people marching for reconciliation rights for the indigenous Aboriginal community... it was very inspiring...

Teach, Learn, Share

Much as i like to think I respect other indigenous languages and cultures, I also think it's wonderful when people come to Ukraine and learn at least a smatttering of Ukrainian. The country has had a rough go, but I think it is uplifting to see travellers, as people who respect the cultural values of the place they are visiting :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I mentioned that my husband Vadym is an artist, who was formerly at the Artist's Collective at #18 Andriyivskiy Descent (but now relocated just outside the Vasilkivska metro, blue metro line Kyiv), so if you have visitors (or you yourself) are interested in Ukrainian art, he will be happy to host you at the new location studios. There is a whole collective of artists, sculptors, metal workers, interesting either for just for a look, or also for purchase. Email him on vadim4art@yahoo.com to arrange a visit to the collective at 32 Vasylkivska Street.

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Ukraine

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