I have been living in Indonesia for 4 and half years. I spent 3 and half years teaching English to adults in Surabaya. I have recently built my dream home on the beach in West Bali and am starting my own English school and tourism center here. My home was completed in October 2021. I have 3 grown children that still live in the United States.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I really enjoy meeting new people and thought it would be fun to host people in my home. I also want to help the community here by promoting tourism in West Bali. This part of Bali is different from many other places because people live a more traditional lifestyle and are very connected to nature. My house is only about 100 meters from the West Bali National Park (Bali Barat Taman Nasional). Here you can see wildlife in their natural habitat and enjoy all the natural beauty (beach, mountain views, jungle, etc...) in a peaceful setting. I hope to share this amazing place with others. I enjoying learning from others as much I enjoy teaching. Maybe we can try cooking together when you are here.

Interests

• culture
• cooking
• reading
• traveling
• hiking
• snorkeling
• teaching
• history
• biking
• exploring
• learning

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy all genres of music, especially if it's live. There are way too many books that I love to name here & I am always look for new title recommendations. I don't watch too many movies, but I do enjoy comedies and action films.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have been fortunate enough to have many amazing experiences in my lifetime. Two memories that really stand out are when I was in Rosarito, Mexico, I went out whale watching with a local fisherman in his very small boat. We saw 2 humpback whales that were 10 times the size of our boat. The other, is when I hiked Mt. Ijen, in Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia. We started climbing at 2:00 a.m. and reached the top in about an hour. After getting to the top, we hiked about 30 minutes more down into the crater of the volcano where we saw the 'blue fire'. It was an amazing experience!

Teach, Learn, Share

As a teacher, I believe there is never an end to the learning process. I am a life-long learner and really enjoy sharing ideas with people from all walks of life. I especially enjoy cooking and eating with people. I think sharing food and recipes is a fun way to learn about different cultures and traditions. I also love sharing my favorite places with others (I'm also a Google Guide) and supporting small businesses.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have always welcomed people into my home (no matter where that home was) to share whatever I can: kindness, conversation, food, drink, knowledge, etc... Since I am part of the local community here, I have cultivated many connections with the local people and can help with any needs you may have when staying in this area. I know about all the accommodation & transportation choices, food options, emergency services, etiquette, cultural activities, local events, etc... I'm happy to help you enjoy any activities you might be interested in.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Iceland, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Singapore, United Arab Emirates

Countries I’ve Lived In

Indonesia, United States