I'm a world traveler, social butterfly, outdoors lover, music freak, crazy sexy cool chick! :D

I emigrated to New Zealand in 2010 and work in the music industry doing educational projects. I'm also working part-time on a PhD in Ethnomusicology. Before moving here I lived in Prague for seven years, and was in Hawaii for about three, with a short stint in Nepal as a volunteer and in Japan for work.

I fell in love with Polynesian culture in 2004 on a trip to the Cook Islands, which led me to Hawaii and then to here in the utterly amazing Aotearoa New Zealand!

Without sounding like a self-help book, I believe what I need to enjoy life to the fullest are three Cs: Creativity, Community and Contribution. Sometime these can all be found in the same place, but at other times I need to check myself to make sure I'm not neglecting any of them. I think if we all got together, performed some service in our community, and had a nice meal and sang some songs afterwards then it would be the greatest anti-depressant in existence.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing has been a huge part of my life for a DECADE!! I've made so many amazing friends through CS. It's like having a world family. They are my peeps.

I am always juggling work, study, music, friends, travel and adventure and I wouldn't want it any other way. It's been so easy and natural to embrace Couchsurfing as I love the craziness and positive chaos that new people bring into our world. I do my best to have cool experiences and positive interactions with other people. Couchsurfing is just an organized way in which to make that happen.

Interests

I love surfing, hiking, SUP, scuba and kayaking - you will have no trouble whatsoever convincing me to get out and do any of those things! I go to a lot of live music and sometimes get free tickets from work so hmu... :) Also totally into food so going out for a good meal and drinks with good people (or getting together to BBQ or have potlucks) definitely puts me in my happy place.

We have so many cool festivals and free concerts and movies in Auckland, so worth getting out to!

• culture
• books
• singing
• concerts
• festivals
• dining
• cooking
• bbq
• walking
• drinking
• movies
• traveling
• juggling
• music
• live music
• guitar
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• kayaking
• surfing
• scuba diving
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I am an open-minded music listener but particularly interested in traditional music from all cultures, and what the record labels call "world" which could be anything from Roma jazz to Polynesian pop. I love the Japanese word "otaku" (nerd) - I am definitely a traditional music otaku. Love classical, jazz, and adore Hawaiian music, which is severely underappreciated.

I love all music from NZ...it's my job to :D

I love original, interesting films from all countries. I may pass on some Hollywood movies but will watch a teen comedy from Malaysia, for instance, since it shines some light on the culture. I love documentaries especially the geographic kine...and TED talks are a good time-filler! www.ted.com

I love to read but not much time lately with the PhD and all...give me your favourite titles and I'll make a list for future...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I feel very lucky to have to have seen and done many amazing things, but to pick one, staying in a monastery on top of a hill in Japan and walking in the huge mausoleum next to it at different times of day and night.

Sometimes just being alive is amazing!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can give you a very amateur surfing lesson, a not-so-amateur guitar or 'ukulele lesson, teach you how to cook something...

What I Can Share with Hosts

I would love to cook for you, make a playlist of NZ music for you, help you tune your guitar, sing you a song :)

Countries I’ve Visited

American Samoa, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Croatia, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Palau, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Czech Republic, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand

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