As I was heading toward the big 4-0 I decided to change careers, give up nursing and take up teaching and embrace my love of English. I also got involved in developing English tests for the those working in the aviation industry, and designing courses and materials for aviation and medical English. This has given me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

Now, 10 years later, I've had another rethink (we only get one life!) and I've decided to return to full time postgrad study. It will give me the chance to meet new people and learn something new. I love learning new stuff. I taught myself to crochet last year from youtube and I put my own kitchen in -plumbing included!

I'm chatty, sociable and like meeting new people and exploring new places - often a little off the beaten track.

I am also a verified house sitter/pet sitter, which I do for free in the same way as couch surfing

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

When my boys were young we hosted people from all around the world and it enriched our lives and hopefully helped us all be a little more open minded about others' cultures and viewpoints.

The world is changing dramatically, and with the internet and social media we have far more access to others' views, which has both its up and down sides. Hosting and being hosted by people from different walks of life, sharing a glass of wine or a cup of tea, exchanging ideas and teaching each other new things may be one small way that we can counteract the creeping divisiveness portrayed by the media.

Interests

• festivals
• gardening
• crochet
• cycling
• camping
• teaching
• linguistics
• ukelele
• gin
• 80s music
• campervan
• decorating
• twins

Music, Movies, and Books

Books I have read more than once :
Emma - Jane Austen
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Good Omens -Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Encyclopedia of English -David Crystal
The God of Small Things -Arundhati Roy
La sombra del viento -Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Not a big music fan - quite happy to work in silence but when the moment takes me ...

Milky Chance, Alt-j, Badly Drawn Boy, Amy Winehouse, Gorillaz
Lots of 80s stuff - sorry :( - Stranglers, UB40, Madness, Queen, Pogues, Waterboys - but I don't inflict it on others

Films - anything by Danny Boyle or Quentin Tarantino -
TV - the occasional netflix binge - mostly drama or stand up comedy

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When my twins were 3 years old I took them backpacking across Europe - a little crazy rather than amazing, but being a single parent has never been an excuse not to do something.

Teach, Learn, Share

English, Crochet, painting and decorating, putting up shelves.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good company. Help with English. I can cook a good rissotto. A room in my house.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cyprus, France, Germany, Lithuania, Morocco, Spain, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Spain