I'm a kiwi who lives in a tiny village in "the lord of the rings" scenery. I love New Zealand but it's an isolated place and there is so much more out there to explore.
I left home on the 1st of January this year in search of some adventure- haven't been back yet and don't want to.
I spent the first six months volunteering in Malawi as a teacher and 3 and a half months on the road backpacking around Europe.

At the moment I am actually travelling around with a really good friend, Bailey Smith, a 19 year old GIRL (one of my couch surfing hosts was expecting a guy and was really surprised to see a girl) who also comes from the middle of nowhere at the end of the world.

I really really like meeting new people. I'm not accustomed to not talking to people on the public transport, so some people must think I'm pretty weird for starting up conversation randomly when I sit next to them. I like people watching- not in a creepy way but because you can learn a lot from observing others especially when travelling.

The new version of couch surfing doesn't have the philosophy part but my philosophy would be if you are going to do something at some stage in your life why not do it now? Why wait until it might be too late? I'm 19 and I would like to think I've explored a bit of the world so far but there is still a whole lot I would like to do and achieve.
I believe that Travel is best done through the people you meet

Dr Seuss is my favourite philosopher.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couch surfing is great because you are staying on someone's couch so you are in a situation where it would be weird if you didn't get know them. The hostels I have stayed in just aren't the same- people aren't nearly as social as I thought they would be.
Getting to know the culture through the locals is pretty cool too but some of the people I have surfed with so far have come from other countries originally and it has been awesome to learn about their cultures as well.

I love the people that do couch surfing- you have to be a certain kind of person to let random hillbilly backpacker strangers into your home on a regular basis, or crash on someone's couch.
- I like meeting strangers- I have this vivid memory of being in this guy's car when hitch hiking (that failed attempt to get to Paris) and this guy was persistently trying to offer me lollies and one of the first things you learn about in primary school is not to get into a car of a stranger who is offering you lollies- I obviously didn't learn this lesson and I couldn't be happier for it.

I've started off surfing but I will definitely host people when I'm back in NZ in November this year.

Interests

Anything to do with adventure sports- skiing, water skiing, wake boarding, rock climbing, hiking, triathlons, orienteering, sailing....

Languages- a simple hello, please and goodbye in the local language can go such a long way to someone opening up more to you.

- chatting to people and having a good laugh
- I love music- listening and playing it. I play the piano and I sing with the ukulele.
- I like volunteering for things
- I really like eating

Coming from New Zealand crowds and large ques are a foreign concept that I am only now getting used to

-Pokemon go really scares me. It's the funniest thing sitting in a park and watching crowds of people running around with their eyes glued to their phones I swear this game and McDonalds are going to become allies to take over the world.

• festivals
• triathlon
• reading
• music
• hiking
• adventure races
• extreme sports
• hitchhiking
• laughing
• couches
• all food

Music, Movies, and Books

I like all kinds of music- favourites would have to be bands like Birds of Tokyo, Mumford and Sons (who doesn't like Mumford and Sons?), Imagine Dragons. A recent stay in Berlin has obviously brought about a new found appreciation for electro music. Don't think anyone can leave that place ever quite the same.
Movies- I have always been a movie fanatic. Can't deal with horror movies- tried watching paranormal activity once... Had to sleep in my friends bed for the next two weeks. Favourites would be We're the Millars, Kingsman, Django and all James Bond movies- you've got to love them.
Like watching comedies- Jimmy Carr is hilarious.
Books: just read a book called "search inside yourself" written by a Google engineer who writes about mediation in a way that actually makes sense and seems achievable in busy everyday life - really cool book.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

They should make this one "random experiences".

Don't know if this counts as an "amazing thing" but I was almost eaten by a crocodile once. That's kind of a funny and kind of not a funny story
- I have swam with sting rays and sharks in French Polynesia
- volunteered in Malawi for 6 months as a teacher.
- Been stung by a scorpion twice in my sleep.
- failed miserably trying to hitchhike from Switzerland to Paris
- Got frostbite on my bum from 3 days alone in a forest sleeping on the frozen ground in winter.
- rock climbed blind folded

Teach, Learn, Share

Well I am not much of a cook- attempted to boil an egg at home once and the house almost caught fire- I'm one of those people don't worry though I won't set your house on fire... I'm actually not that bad I can handle the kiwi classic Pavlova though- best dessert everrrrr.
I play piano and ukulele and sing a bit. So gutted I didn't bring my ukulele on this trip but if you have one we can have a bit of a jam.
Sorry don't know how to play rugby and I don't know the haka- don't even really watch rugby(I'm a seriously lousy pass for a New Zealander)
- I like hearing people's stories- everyone has some interesting stories to tell- especially couch surfers.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Well I can offer some banter (learnt this word from a Scottish girl) My friend Bailey and I are not fussy about anything- I slept on the floor for six months with cockroaches and spiders crawling all over me in my sleep (hence the scorpion stings part) and I have eaten a play dough mash potato like substance during this time (literally tastes like nothing) and fish skeletons. I'm happy as larry with anything- if you would like to hang out that would be really cool but if not or you're too busy that's fine as well. My friend Bailey and I don't mind getting up early in the morning and coming back in the evening. Bailey is also super easy going. We have our own sleeping bag liners and can help out with anything as well

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malawi, Montenegro, New Zealand, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Malawi, New Zealand, Switzerland