I'm Amelia, and I hail from Melbourne, Australia!

I'm 27 and have had the utter privilege (and it is a privilege!) of visiting 22 of the planets incredible countries!

I'm a Refuge Health Nurse and have been working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers for the last 5 years of my career. I'm currently working full time in a community health centre - which I love, as its the true 'grass-roots' end of medicine. If by chance you happen to keep abreast of Australian Immigration politics; I also used to live and work on certain remote Pacific Island camps that shall remain nameless - but we can talk more about that later....

In addition, I am in the midst of a Masters in Public Health and Tropical Medicine, which is geekily thrilling and challenging in equal measure. The end goal: To be accepted into the elusive ICRC family (one day!)

I often reflect on how fortunate I am to have a vocation that has afforded me the opportunity to work in so many parts of the world, and engage with such brilliant humans. The friendships we make whilst travelling are indeed priceless, but there is something particularly special about the people one meets when working abroad - who become quickly cemented in our souls as family.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Whilst I am brand new to 'official' couch surfing... I have been hosting friends, family and wayward travellers at my home in Melbourne (and the homes of my family members!) for the last 5 years, or so.

The mantra of the CS community is absolutely akin to my own. I love that couch surfing embodies values of respect, generosity, open-mindedness and altruism; all in the name of self- discovery, and most importantly....enabling us to discover one another.

Interests

I enjoy cats, ostentatious 70's Disco, social justice, podcasts, Sagan, politics, exploring, listening to different points of view, trying to learn other languages (and failing miserably), Louie Theroux, people watching, thinking too much about cosmological principles I don't really understand.....and coercing my friends into geography quizzes. P.s Neil deGrasse Tyson is God.

• cats
• culture
• wine
• politics
• traveling
• podcasts
• surfing
• geography
• history
• languages
• medicine
• nursing

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC- Lets just say: Neo Soul to Palestinian Hip Hop to Industrial Metal and EVERYTHING you can dream of in between...we can discuss this further on the couch at your house!

MOVIES - Independence Day, A Time To Kill, The Believer, Django Unchained, The Colour Purple, Benjamin Button, Pawno....the list goes on and on!

BOOKS - Guns Germs and Steel, To Kill A Mocking Bird, The Psychopath Test (too many to list) Currently reading: Islam and The Future of Tolerance :)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Delivered a baby!

Walked around an entire country!*

*Delivery of said newborn and cross-country marathon, did not occur simultaneously.

Teach, Learn, Share

TEACH - Refugee stuff, Medical stuff, Australian politics/history stuff, my dad's killer Coconut Fish recipe.... and how to make hats (bet you didn't see that one coming!)

LEARN - I would love to learn about you, your beautiful city, your story, your heritage, your customs and culture, your language and your points of view!

SHARE - Lets muddle through this life thing together: one deep, couch sitting, wine guzzling, conversation at a time!

What I Can Share with Hosts

My assistance in recreating Wahols 'The Exploding Plastic Inevitable' at your house, when I come to stay!

Free (reasonably accurate*) medical advice :)

And of course....My home when you come to Melbourne town!!!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, Fiji, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Kenya, Nauru, Papua New Guinea