Hey! I'm from Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand, so naturally I love the wild landscapes surrounding me- deserted beaches, dense forests and snowy mountains. When I travel I love to find a balance between the peace and calm of nature and the exciting bustle of cities and their people.

Since I was young, my goal has been to learn 5 languages fluently, and the easiest way to do that is to spend time fully immersed! I lived in northeastern China for a year where I learned Mandarin and travelled through desert, city, and countryside. I then spent a spontaneous year in Berlin, which I treated as my base for many journeys through Europe.

I love having a good time with new people, swapping books with other travellers, feeling the flow of open and honest conversation.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To explore and feel and share the magic of the people who make a place so special.

Interests

I love the outdoors, being in nature, hiking up mountains, hearing the birds and skinny-dipping in icy-cold rivers.

I love sharing wine and food <3

I have a passion for languages that has sent me on a long journey to become fluent in Chinese first, (why not challenge myself a little?) and some day I shall recover my French, and start Spanish and Arabic and Russian etc etc...

• festivals
• dancing
• cooking
• beer
• baking
• reading
• juggling
• piano
• karaoke
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• teaching
• languages
• beaches
• rivers
• mountains
• food
• playing guitar
• exploring
• wild camping
• taekwondo
• getting lost

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Salman Rushdie's "The Enchantress of Florence", Isabelle Allende's "The Infinite Plan", and any witty and shocking short stories.

TV shows: Game of Thrones, Shameless, Sherlock, and Vikings!

Music: Folk and indie, jazz, blues, Spanish guitar and flamenco, and sometimes some electronic or techno too... And anything to dance to!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Gone diving to get over my fear of *creatures* in the water and my fear of holding my breath under water... Success!

Inspired a broken-hearted stranger on a train by sharing this classic quote: "You have to be lost before you can be found."

Taught English to classes of 30 students at the age of 18.

Stargazed while floating on my back in the Mediterranean.

Teach, Learn, Share

NZ culture and funny slang... ;)
English and Chinese language
Card games
Taekwondo
Juggling
Piano

What I Can Share with Hosts

Food and drink
Travel experiences, recommendations and stories
Card games
Piano playing
Super positive attitude
Big smiles

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Myanmar, Netherlands, Poland, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Germany, New Zealand