CURRENT MISSION (***actually this is past mission as I haven't updated my profile in a while. I'll add some updates at the bottom***)

Find my "family" - people who have the same ideals and values as me so we can work together to do good in the world.

My ideals and values are probably best summed up in the childrens fire idea (http://thechildrensfiremovement.com/about/the-childrens-fire/) I believe we should take care to look after all life including those far away and those in the future - beyond my lifetime.
How that is implimented in real life is perhaps the bigger challenge.
ABOUT ME

I have quite a diverse range of interests, and as such, a diverse range of friends and Experiences.
I lived in Austria as a child and was blessed with the opportunity to learn German. This opened the door for further travel and language learning, and I subsequently traveled to Taiwan where I learned Chinese, and Australia where I learned how to speak Ozi!

Career/hobby-wise (I merge the two because I prioritise working in something I'm interested in):
NATURE
I love exploring and learning about nature. That's why I chose to study Biology at university. I've subsequently encountered a variety of other ways to investigate and interact with the natural world from herbalism to permaculture, which draws in a whole new anthropological aspect. There is so much we understand now about how nature works, and yet so much left to discover. It's wonderful to watch it happening in front of your eyes, and also see how much it can provide for our needs.
SPORTS
I tend to prefer non-competative showy sports like acrobatics, circus skills etc. If I had to pick a competative sport, it would be cricket, purely because I know more about it and it's more about technique than fitness.

WORLD : I think you'd have a hard time finding a profile on couchsurfing who doesn't like meeting people from other cultures and learning about other people, and I'm not an exception. I'm particularly partial to sharing languages (I am keen to improve my Chinese, French and German (happy to teach the basics of them too) and want to start learning Spanish. I also enjoy cooking, and my cooking has a smattering of influences from Taiwan and Austria (as well as English which is already a mish-mash of italian, French, Indian etc),
I love learning about different ways of communication, different social norms etc. I tend to challenge the social norms of my own culture and like to investigate and consider those from other cultures too.

PHILOSOPHY

If I'm lucky I have 50 odd more years on this planet. I want to ensure those 50 more years are spent enjoying myself, learning, and making a positive experience for others on this planet.

**** 2024 update****

So, I found my "FAMILY! I'm now living in a community where we share life together in all its twists and turns, and it's pretty amazing! I would love to host some special people to come join me here for a short while.

I'm also planning to do more travelling, and will be toing a small tour starting in Austria for a week, then Munich for a couple of weeks (volunteering on a selfsustaining farm) AND THEN... hopefully COUCHSURFING!!:) on my railway journey back to the UK.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I first joined couchsurfing in 2012 when I surfed in Taiwan, as well as hosting a lovely Filipino lady during the brief period when I've had somewhere I could invite people. I've subsequently surfed in the Philippines, Australia and now the UK.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I hosted once, back in the day when I had my own place to share. It was an awesome experience and I loved being a tour guide. I have surfed in several places around the world, and find it much more my kind of experience than the sterile businesslike experience of staying in a hotel, and you end up with friends all over the world :)

Interests

Things I know about/do: Bellringing, Nature, Biology, Travelling, History, Circus skills, Hooping, swimming, speaking English, Chinese and German (kinda - I lived in Austria for two years as a child), Hiking, swimming in rivers, lakes and the sea, visiting museums, getting to know people, playing board games, painting, drawing and (when I get the chance) sculpting... etc etc

Things I want to do: Diving, Mountain climbing, yoga, Speaking Chinese, french, German (and one day Spanish!), seeing nature, doing things I wouldn't normally do.

• animals
• wildlife
• insects
• performing arts
• animal welfare
• chinese food
• board games
• pottery
• juggling
• drawing
• hiking
• hunting
• swimming
• biology
• ecology
• geology
• history
• languages
• science
• volunteering
• lakes
• rivers
• mountains
• nature
• chinese
• survival skills
• wilderness
• bushcraft
• hooping
• farming
• hula hooping
• stand up comedy
• busking
• organic gardening
• wild camping
• spinning
• permacultura
• acrobatics
• foraging
• communal living
• wild swimming
• educating
• vegetable growing
• cooking on wood
• amature dramatics

Teach, Learn, Share

Languages - I can speak a little German, French, and Chinese. I can show you a little how Chinese Characters are made up.

Acrobatics: I do basic acrobatics and will try and get any willing person to ballance on my feet (no matter how heavy they are!). I also know a variety of stretches and excercises which are good for core strength, getting the splits etc. (I never got the splits because of my dodgy knee, but that doesn't mean you can't)
Circus skills. If the props are around, I can teach you how to juggle, hoop (around your waist, neck chest, shoulders etc) poi, diabolo, contact juggling etc, although I'm no master at any of them.

Biology and nature, knowledge and life: I studied Biology at school and have a general interest in science etc. Recently I've become very interested in how we can live with nature in a more harmonious way. I've been practicing some traditional skills like foraging and plant identification, spinning wool (without a spinning wheel), bodging, etc.

I'd be happy to help with gardening, although I have a wrist problem so I might be more useful with advice etc than doing lots of gardening, depending on how it feels.

What I Can Share with Hosts

See teach/learn/share.

Also, if planned far enough in advance I can bring something you want from the country I'm coming from.

If you're willing to give me free reign in the kitchen I'd be more than happy to cook.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Austria, Taiwan, United Kingdom