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Overview

  • 25 references 14 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English; learning French, Italian, Russian
  • 49, Female
  • Member since 2007
  • University lecturer
  • Finishing a PhD
  • From Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

To meet lots of like-minded people from around the world.

ABOUT ME

I spend a lot of time writing... a comparative politics PhD, and also scribbling creative things. My PhD is about political party development in central and east European democracies, so I send a lot of time in central and east Europe.

I also love music, especially going to gigs, and spending time outdoors - wild swimming, cycling, hiking...

PHILOSOPHY

Be kind and keep learning.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting, surfing and meeting lots of new people through local CS meetings.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been shown around Xi'an by Jack and Mary, seen in a new year with Svetlana in St Petersburg, been out for beers with Rasmus in Helsinki and got straight to heart of New Orleans with Jeff. Hosting couch surfers from around the world also makes you look at your own town through new (and usually more appreciative) eyes.

Interests

Current affairs, long distance cycling, learning new languages, cooking

  • horses
  • writing
  • cooking
  • beer
  • partying
  • politics
  • traveling
  • music
  • outdoor activities
  • cycling
  • hiking
  • surfing
  • swimming
  • languages
  • language exchange
  • lakes
  • mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Kieslowski, The Lives of Others, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind.
Music: Just about anything live, and a pretty wide range anyways...
Books: mostly literary fiction and autobiographies

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My favourite trip was over land from Helsinki to Hong Kong. The highlight was northern Mongolia: sleeping in traditional felt huts, riding horses, swimming in lakes, driving through snow capped mountains. I was travelling with one of those small groups that just gelled perfectly and, almost four years later, we are all still friends.

Teach, Learn, Share

Language exchange and writing skills

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Italy, United Kingdom, United States

Old School Badges

  • 1 Vouch
  • Pioneer Badge

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