CURRENT MISSION

Figure out my purpose and get on the path to it!

ABOUT ME

All about me in this tiny box - I should hope not! Halfway through my life and wondering how to give back to the planet and my species. Been blessed with so much and frequently puzzled as to why I've been so fortunate and others aren't. Constantly struggling intellectually with the big issues and scared that while I'm navel gazing life is passing me by but often it feels so wrong to be hedonistic in the short term.

PHILOSOPHY

Life is not a zero sum game - it is possible for everyone to win (or at least to have enough). Those of us who have been blessed have a responsibility to share. Slow down, look around, be grateful, be kind. Think before you open your mouth (I need to practice this one more myself).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

At the moment I am sharing an apartment so can't offer to host (logistically impossible) but hope that will change by September 2013. Hardly traveled in Europe since it's always been so costly as I'm based so far away (Canada) - been many places in Southeast Asia though (where travel is cheap).

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None so far.

Interests

reading, writing, travel, food/cooking, birdwatching, archeology, architecture, walking, chocolate, coffee

• writing
• architecture
• festivals
• dining
• cooking
• chocolate
• coffee
• walking
• reading
• traveling
• boxing
• archeology

Music, Movies, and Books

Book fiend with a wide range of tastes - Salman Rushdie, Rohinton Mistry, Steven King, Sinclair Lewis, Dickens, Robert Heinlein, Neil Gaiman, Nick Hornby and on and on.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Amazing things seen - birdwatching in Malaysia and India. The temples of Bagan (Myanmar) and Cambodia (Angkor). Temple hopping in India (Tamil Nadu) and visiting the rock cut caves of Ellora (India). The southern tip of India where two oceans meet - Kanyakumari. Women's festival of Pongala in Kerala - not to be missed.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to cook and bake and have been doing both since I was a small child. If you're a bit nervous in the kitchen we could make a cake together or try preparing a simple meal. Sometimes all it takes to turn someone into a daring and (mostly) accomplished cook is a success or two that gives them confidence.

In addition, I am a native English speaker with a very good knowledge of the language (although I must caution as a Canadian I may not be up on the lingo that you might use in the UK or as an English speaker in Europe). I also believe I am a competent writer. So if you want to polish your spoken and/or written English skills for use in the more formal arena (presentations at work/school/conferences, job interviews, resumes) I'd be happy to help you out.

Countries I’ve Visited

India

Countries I’ve Lived In

Sweden