Hi!

I'm Christie, I'm 23 and I have just finished studying English Literature in London and now it's time to let off some steam and have that long awaited adventure I've been mulling over ever since I first watched Lord of the Rings..!

I've never actually been outside of Europe before but have loved the past couple of euro trips I have done during uni summers. I don't go anywhere without my sketch pad, ipod and a good book.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Last summer I finished my degree in English Literature at UCL in London. After three fantastic years of fun and hard work I have decided to do a three month long solo trip around New Zealand, Australia, Bali and Thailand at the start of 2017. I am starting in New Zealand and am going on the Kiwi Experience bus, but as I have 4 weeks in NZ I am hoping to step off the beaten track a little bit also. I feel that doing some couch surfing will allow me to get a more authentic experience with people who would be able to share some of the hidden gems of their local areas!

Interests

• documentaries
• yoga
• clubbing
• reading
• painting
• cycling

Music, Movies, and Books

I have been reflecting recently upon what has really inspired me to do this trip and I have recently come to the conclusion that it was down to the following:

Film: The Lord of the Rings (The film that refuses to date over time because it is perfect in everyway forever and ever amen)

Book: The Beach, Alex Garland - Ok I know that is a cliché for a traveller but having just completed an English degree I feel that I have some qualification to assert that there are many literary merits to this pop culture book.

Music: Empire of the Sun - Not my favourite band anymore however I will be listening to them on repeat consistently as I travel around. The videos for We are the People and Walking on a Dream imparted such a lasting impression of the hedonism of travelling to me at an early age. These songs can therefore complete my clichéd triumvirate of travelling inspiration.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The best is yet to come right..??

...but something that felt like a big deal achievement was when I completed a 35 mile walk across Dartmoor (a veritable wilderness) with my best buds and the worst blisters in the world for the ten tors challenge when I was 15. Surviving finals was also comparably full of camaraderie and pain.

*update*
Some cool things have happened in nz so far for example yesterday I hiked across some mountains in the rain to get to the Franz josef glacier which was pretty awesome!

What I Can Share with Hosts

probably a whole load of stories about the embarrassing and ditsy mistakes I have already made on my travelling adventure so far....!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Croatia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Slovenia, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

England