Hi !
My name is Camille, I'm traveling around New Zealand from September 2017 to February 2018, enjoying a six month break in my studies. I'm currently volunteering for DOC (department of conservation) in Whirinaki Forest (Bay of Plenty) where I'm mostly doing biodiversity monitoring. Mid December I leave Whirinaki to travel around New Zealand, I would like to spend time in Wellington and discover South Island. I would be happy to meet different people on my way, share stories around a beer or a tea and discover the kiwi lifestyle.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I really like to meet people and share culture. I usually travel by doing volunteering because it's a good way to meet locals people and because it's important for me to be useful. Couch surfing is for me a new way to meet locals.

Interests

I love doing outdoor stuff. Those last week-ends I did kayaking, horse trekking and of course lots of hiking. New Zealand is really an amazing country for nature lovers and outdoor sport lovers. I just start learning surf, I would like to practice again and again! I love the sensations and being in the ocean. I also did some yoga recently and I really enjoy it.

Before coming in New Zealand, I've spend lots of my time in student associations campaigning for ecology and biomimicry. I’ve been involved in the management of a student collaborative garden, in waste valorisation actions, debates and conferences organisation. I also co-founded a biomimicry association with a friend in my engineering school. I’m really interested in new ways of making and using technology and fond of nature and biology.

• arts
• festivals
• music
• hiking
• nature
• salsa
• surf
• biomimicry

Music, Movies, and Books

Fakear, Dire Straits, Lhasa de Sela, Soom T, Bonobo, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, Tarantino's movies, animated movies, Miyazaki movies, Jean Marie Pelt, Buckminster Fuller, Bernard Werber, Pierre Rabi, ....

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I just spent three months in Whirinaki Forest, helping DOC rangers to monitor bush biodiversity. It's clearly an amazing experience for me. I learned lots of things about New Zealand biodiversity and worked in a wonderful environment as a member of the local life. I've been working with birds, bats, plants, also had the occasion to fly in the bush by helicopter. It's definitively one of the best experience of my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you a bit of French, and about French culture. I'm also always happy to cook French pancakes or anything else. I mostly eat vegetarian and I can cook few nice and simple recipes.

If you're interested in, I can share with you what I've learn about DOC work and New Zealand biodiversity. I'm absolutely not a specialist but I've learn few things during my tree months volunteering.

As I said before I'm happy to learn about kiwis culture and If you can help me learning surf that's really really cool ! ;)

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, good meal, beer, dance, good music, a bit of help in the garden, French culture, happiness, ...

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, New Zealand