I am a very English girl, currently living in Cricklewood, which is in almost the heart of London (let's call it the "lung" of London).

I teach Reception in a local primary school - the children are so small, you can hardly see them, it's frightening. But it means I'm really good at Maths, like 4 + 2 and stuff like that. Sometimes I also teach piano and cello.

In my spare time, I write and perform music, often playing concerts in London and occasionally elsewhere. I sing all the time; living with me is like being part of a continuous Stephen Sondheim musical. I try to tone it down when I have guests...

Recently I have taken up gymnastics and occasionally travel across London to train. No, I can't do all that stuff you saw at the Olympics.

Language details: native English, fluent Swedish, comfortable Afrikaans, and decent but rusty German. I also can speak Italian (it's VERY rusty though) and understand Norwegian, Danish and Dutch. I am also learning Ukrainian. Early days.

That's all.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm hosting because I can - I have the space - and it's nice to be able to help people out. I also enjoy meeting new people and learning about other languages and cultures.

And I know what hotel prices are like around here.

Currently I am receiving about 20 requests a day, so I am unable to respond comprehensively to every single one. However, I will check my diary for each one and answer yes or no.

Interests

I'm interested in just about everything except for cooking and dancing and politics, because I'm terrible at all of those. I love playing music, I love films and video games, table tennis and gymnastics, writing stories and poems, learning every language under the sun, and pretty much anything that has to do with Scandinavia.

• video games
• music
• gymnastics
• horror movies
• netflix
• scandinavia

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Susanne Sundfør, Egil Olsen, Sia, Goldfrapp, The Mars Volta, Vampire Weekend, Sleep Party People, AURORA, Laleh, Sigur Rós, and almost anything else Nordic

Movies: V for Vendetta, Melancholia, The Princess Bride, True Romance, Memento, Eden Lake, Funny Games, Everything is Illuminated, The Dark Knight, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Trolljegeren, Paranormal Activity, Penelope, Whale Rider, How To Train Your Dragon, Les Choristes

Books: This Perfect Day, The Princess Bride, Everything Is Illuminated, and anything by Lionel Shriver

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I don't know, a cartwheel?

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Gambia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

England