It's just me, now, since Patrick died a while ago. In fairness I have to say that all references stem from the time when we were still together living in that beautiful property in Thames. Life is very different now.

We haven't been active with couchsurfing for a while, for all kinds of valid reasons.

Now I live in a tiny 1-bedroom unit in Auckland. I have a couch, or alternatively for more privacy, a tent could be put up in the garden. It is very quiet here. The bus stop is about 3min. away and it takes about 40 minutes to downtown Auckland. Blockhouse Bay shopping centre is about 15 min walk, or 3 min by bus. New Lynn with its mall and many shops about 20 min. walk.
I have off-street parking available.
I'm vegetarian, but guests can eat what they like.

Just before the covid madness I travelled from Cape Town to Cairo. In Dahab the Jordanian and Israeli borders closed the day before I was to bus there, and I had to return to NZ - just in time. In March 2023 I'll be off again to complete this. So Jordan, Israel, Greece. Since I tried to learn Spanish during our lockdowns, I want to carry on to Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We mostly hosted, but also had some wonderful experiences as guests in India. Couchsurfing in Africa didn't come to much, except an outstanding experience in Sudan with a family in Khartoum.
Now I'm happy to host again, or meet up, or help with travel planning, though only until March 2023!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

All positive! We have met the most interesting people and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We've made life-long friends who enriched our lives.

Interests

I grew up in Germany but spent over half my life in NZ.
I love making music with anyone (play violin and piano - mainly classical), i used to dance, spent much to much time on devices, love my family, mostly enjoy cooking and baking, working with children. Still love reading. I get really enthusiastic when i can plan journeys....
Languages.
4 grown children and 10 grandkids aged 5-24.

• culture
• concerts
• dancing
• cooking
• reading
• traveling
• music
• piano
• violin
• opera
• spirituality
• anthroposophy

Music, Movies, and Books

Best like biographies, more 'real' stuff, but also like a novels. May not have emigrated if I had not read "Green Dolphin's Country" (Der gruene Delphin) by Elizabeth Goudge - as a teenager.
As to music, I'm pretty much a "classical" girl, but also like ethnic music.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Immigrating to NZ with four young children
Travelled with two twin teenage daughters through South India for six weeks, at times I felt as the Pied Piper of Hamlin. That was an amazing trip.
Later witnessing the birth of my first grandson - not much can beat that.
Hiking through Nepalese villages without seeing a European face for days.
Solo travelling in remote areas in China.
Partly solo through Africa.

Teach, Learn, Share

Learn cooking from different cultures - so far picked up vegan, Indian, and an introduction into Yerba Mate from people we hosted. And the idea of visiting South America.
I love to listen to others stories and experiences.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My culture (s) including international cooking and baking if possible. Teaching English, my travel and life experiences.

Countries we have visited:

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, England, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Monaco, Namibia, Niue, Norway, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Singapore, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Viet Nam, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, New Zealand

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