Hello friends!

We are Ilse (36), Helinah (nearly 5) and Ameïa (7 months old). I am a mother traveling with my 2 daughters.
In my twenties I backpacked around the world for about 5 years.
During my travels I did all sorts of different jobs. I worked with families, in hostels, restaurants and on many organic farms.
But since I became a mother my life has totally changed. I try to live in the present moment as much as I can and I follow my natural instinct as a mother. Basically I'd love to leave society and start living off-the-grid and join a community of like minded people, focusing on becoming self-sufficient, using solar panels and growing a communal organic garden, going foraging, unschooling/homeschooling the children, etc...
This past year I have lived in a permaculture community in Belgium with my 2 children.

When I was 26 I moved to Australia and more or less lived in Australasia until I was 31. I gave birth to my daughters whilst being at HelpX places, one birth was on the east coast of Australia and one birth was in a gypsy wagon on a permaculture farm in Belgium. I have experiences to share about homebirth with a doula. Since then we have been working all around Europe and Kenya (where the father lives and works) via WWOOF, Workaway and HelpX. My children are my world and I love having them close, watching them grow and learn new things everyday so words cannot explain how thankful I am that there are people who are happy to host couchsurfers with kids!
We love to camp and are used to minimum living conditions (which I call maximum living!). Bucket showers, handwashing, gumboots, mud - bring it on!!! We have camping gear and wet weather clothes.
I fell in love with Spain in 2017 when I walked 1200 km on bare feet along the coastline and gathered almost 9000 euro to buy water filters and other goods for the slum children in Kenya. I have become familiar with the Spanish language and would love to live in the country for an extended amount of time.

We care about the environment and use natural/biodegradable toiletries and washable nappies.
I really love couchsurfing it has brought me to so many great places and people around the world.
Fluent languages spoken are Dutch and English, intermediate level Spanish and French (+ some Kiswahili).
We can also share about our life in Africa and teach the children some fun Swahili songs!

We hope to meet you soon!
Hakuna Matata!
Ilse, Helinah and Ameïa

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm approaching life as an adventure, with enormous excitement and heaps of positive energy. I'm the guest 95% of the time, so I try my best to reflect this energy on the people that I stay with.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted and surfed heaps, and I've met a very diverse range of people. From crazy hippies to great thinkers, big drinkers, strippers, wonderful musicians and off course the occasional nutcase.

Interests

Hmm... things I like to do:
- exploring the world with my little daughters
- make chapati mjam mjam
- getting lost and then cleverly figuring out where I am... and then getting lost again
- stare at the world map for hours and plan trips
- sleep on the beach
- sing songs

• meditation
• fishing
• personal development
• sustainability
• permaculture
• community
• off the grid
• foraging
• bushwalking
• osho
• gathering
• present moment
• cooking and eating
• kenya

Music, Movies, and Books

Too many to sum up but, my all-time favourite film is definitely Taika Waititi's "BOY"

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hanging Rock, an amazing rock-formation in The Blue Mountains in Australia is the most beautiful, amazing and magical place I've ever been to (so far).

Teach, Learn, Share

Let's go fishing. I can teach you everything you need to know!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Belgium, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain

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