Here's a little more about me and my family. We moved to Denmark in 2003 to get away from the rat race of city life. Both my boys grew up in Denmark from about ages 4 and 9 - lots of beach visits, walking in the bush, involvement in local community arts projects. I've always been interested in writing and in 2008 began to teach and facilitate collaborative writing projects for performance.

In 2013, I was lucky enough to be offered online work with a Perth-based publisher, Fontaine Publishing Group, as their digital publishing consultant - lucky because I get to work from home in Denmark, just a few hours a day, very flexible. I am also studying towards a Social Work qualification, with 2 days per week in Albany at the local college. My husband teaches at Murdoch University and online, having finished a PhD in Transformative Studies with the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2014. He divides his time between Perth and Denmark during semesters.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm mainly a Helpx host, which I've been doing since mid-2014, and have thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people. This has inspired me to go travelling myself one day not too far away - both alone and with my husband. In the meantime, we're happy to host other travellers passing through, when we have a spare bedroom and are not busy Helpx hosting. I also see this as a great opportunity for my children to get to know travellers from other countries and perhaps make friends they can one day visit.

Interests

* Community Development
* Creative Writing
* Community Arts & Environmental projects
* Cycling
* Kayaking on the inlet
* Swimming & walking at the beach
* a little hiking (when I can fit it in)
* watching great DVD series
* reading - all sorts, from young adult fiction to memoir and psychology

• birds
• arts
• writing
• poetry
• performing arts
• environment
• cooking
• recipes
• walking
• gardening
• flowers
• reading
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• swimming
• history
• psychology
• social work
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

* Favourite Music - classical & world music, eclectic, Tin Pan Orange
* Favourite Books - Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler, YA novels by John Green, Short stories by Alice Munro, Novels by Jodi Piccoult, Lost & Found by Brooke Davis, A Pace of Grace by Linda Kavelin Popov
* Favourite DVD series - Outlander, The Good Wife, Orphan Black, A Place to Call Home, Beautiful People, Lark Rise to Candleford etc
* Favourite Movies - Avatar, Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit, The Martian, Paddington Bear, Pride & Prejudice

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Helped create an original script and performance with 16 local women's writing woven together anonymously and performed by the women themselves, exploring in an intimate way our journeys into womanhood and our relationship with the community of Denmark (how we came here, what we love and hate about it). This project was so successful (the show so loved by our local audience) that it has led to 4 other similar projects I've since been involved in as a community writing facilitator.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have taught creative writing, mentored young people, trained as a Junior Youth Empowerment animator, helped create a cooperative organic vegetable garden in our local community and co-managed the Centre for Sustainable Living in Denmark for a year.

I love to learn creative arts and gain new insight into our environment - the birds, flowers, landscape and natural history. Sitting on a rock in the bush or by the sea writing poetry is my idea of heaven.

I enjoy sharing deeper personal stories about our journeys through life - what we've learnt, how we've grown wiser or humbler, how we dream of making a difference. Being grateful together for this amazing life.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love cooking - trying out new healthy recipes, or old unhealthy ones adapted to be wheat-free and/or sugar-free.

I enjoy gardening with others (not so much by myself as I need guidance).

I enjoy capturing stories and putting them into writing and can write good copy if I'm inspired about the topic. Can edit too.

I'm a good listener and always willing to receive feedback and meet the challenges that human relationships offer up - to grow together, to learn from differences and to build understanding.

I'm good at organising things (years of admin experience) - in Excel, on paper or on shelves.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, England, United States