CURRENT MISSION

learning teaching, learning Spanish, learning other things

ABOUT ME

I've just moved to Spain! Now I live in Valencia, and I'm about to start my first job as an English language teacher. Exciting times...! Valencia is cool, everyone is very friendly and I am hoping to make new friends and find a place to live.

Before that I was in the UK for a few months, then before that in the US travelling around, then before that living in Sydney.

I am always up for meeting interesting, like-minded people for some kind of meaningful exchange. Also up for meeting not-so-like-minded people which will no doubt be interesting too. I love music (everything from dnb to classical - well not quite everything but I have an open mind), nature, sun, sea, being active, being inactive, eating, drinking, hanging out, going out, staying in.

PHILOSOPHY
Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself, and show some kindness every day. Try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Take something from every experience. The most difficult ones seemed to teach the lessons I needed the most.

My motto in life: "Always leave them wanting more"

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Met some great people, surfed a bit and happy to return the favour when I live somewhere which is not a hostel or someone else's couch.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfed a couple of times and met some wonderful people for catch-ups and random excursions. They kept me sane.

Interests

Things I like: art, literature, eating chocolate (amongst other things), going out dancing, staying in talking, drinking tea (also coffee, champagne, beer and tequila), nature, animals, sailing, being on holiday, words, yoga. Many other things too which I can't currently think of. Interesting conversations about serious stuff, ranting about the ills of the world, laughing at things, laughing with people.

• animals
• arts
• literature
• dancing
• chocolate
• beer
• coffee
• yoga
• drinking
• traveling
• music
• sailing
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Calibre, Carmen McRae, Dave Brubeck, Evil Needle, Hi-Tek, Gil Scott-Heron, Hidden Orchestra, Kidkanevil, Talib Kwali, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Massive Attack, Miles Davis, Mingus, Monk, Mos Def, Nuyorican Soul, Q-Tip, Recloose, Sonny Rollins, DJ Shadow, Stac. Beethoven, Bach, Cinematic Orchestra, Mahler, Shostakovich. Deep house, minimal techno, rolling beats, sweeping strings, jazz jazz jazz jazz jazz. Anything that makes me nod my head or tap my toes.

Movies - arty/slightly depressing/left of centre rather than Hollywood blockbuster special effects romcom rubbish.

Books - yes.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Randomly decided to leave my life behind and relocate to the other side of the world. Big, scary, challenging, life-changing, it has changed me in ways I didn't expect and I'm a stronger and happier person having been lucky enough to have this experience. Now I'm about to do something similar, this time closer to home but in a place where I don't speak the language very well.

So far so good!

Teach, Learn, Share

Let's put all our ideas about life into a big pot and stir them around, turn up the heat and see what comes out....

What I Can Share with Hosts

Hmmm... lots of music. Some card games. Videos of animals. That kind of stuff.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Brunei Darussalam, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, England, Scotland