Looking for a couch/place in Paris: 24th-28th September 2018, 2-4th October 2018.

Even though I have had an account since 2014, I have just started my profile. I will start adding friends and get verified ASAP.

I will write a French translation of this asap. I am an English and History teacher and an incredibly unsuccessful and terrible artist and writer. I love France and was lucky enough to spend a semester in Lille a few years ago, and so I (used) to speak French fluently. There are not too many opportunities to indulge in la vie francophone here in Australia (unless you like to rave, which I admit I do...) and I have not been to France in a few years, and I really miss it.

I studied French and English literature in my undergraduate degree, and have a deep love of language, history, art and music. I play the violin and the cello (neither will be coming with me on my trip, fear not.) I love to read, write and draw and would call myself an extroverted introvert - I love small groups of people, dinner parties (and also strangely outdoor music festivals,) but I also need time to unwind with a coffee, a smoke and a book as well. I also adore basically all animals so if you have pets please understand that I will give them more attention than I give you.

Like all basic white girls, I love my yoga and am hydrated by coffee more than water, so any insider tips on yoga classes and great coffee and croissant would be hugely welcomed, as would the opportunity to attend any cool live music, poetry slam, performance or show that an ignorant traveler would be oblivious to. I am looking to practise my French and maybe meet some new people. I am in a loving and committed monogamous relationship.

In summary, I have been described, and I refuse to take this as anything other than a compliment, as being not unlike a slightly less debaucherous version of Bernard from the show Black Books. I am deeply sarcastic and often absurd, and I do not take myself particularly seriously. I'm really looking forward to being back in France, and I can't wait to see what cool people I meet while I'm here.

Bisoux.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Looking for a couch/place in Paris: 24th-28th September 2018, 2-4th October 2018.

I am coming to France for a short holiday. I am staying in Air Bnbs and Hostels, but I'd love to actually get to speak some French and maybe get to experience some authentic Parisian life. When I was last in France I only came to Paris for transit because I was too poor, and I don't have a huge amount of time as I am just coming on school break, so I'd love to meet some vrai Parisiens and learnt a bit about Paris!

Interests

• cats
• dogs
• writing
• poetry
• tattoos
• music festivals
• yoga
• politics
• reading
• painting
• music
• live music
• spoken word
• history
• travel
• linguistics
• permaculture
• gaming
• rap
• poetry slam
• praxis

Music, Movies, and Books

Too hard!
Will keep updating.
Favourite authors:
Orwell
Atwood
Sartre
De Beauvoir
Maupaussant
Siad
Le Malle
Conrad
Lovecraft
Hesse
Naomi Klein
Warren Ellis
Brian K Vaughan (Fiona Staples as illustrator)

Favourite books of the moment:
The Hate You Give - Angie Thomas
Cairo - a Graphic Novel - Willow Wilson
Seveneves - Neal Stephensen
The songlines - Bruce Chatwin
Au revoir les enfants - Louis Le Malle
No is not enough - Naomi Klein

Some of my all time favourites:
1984 - Orwell
Pedagogy of the Oppressed - Paolo Freire
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Hemingway
Huis Clos - Sartre
Une enfance outremer - Erouart Siad
The Flood Trilogy - Margaret Atwood
Mara and Dann - Doris Lessing
Steppenwolf - Herman Hesse
The Future of the Mind - Michio Kaku
Hegemony or Survival - Noam Chomsky

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have no idea how to answer this. I am definitely overthinking what it means to be 'amazing.' One of my FAVOURITE things that I have ever done is work for the RSPCA as an animal rehabilition officer. It was during my Bachelor's degree, and I had a good part time job and Government support and a light semester load, and so I had enough time to volunteer. I always wanted to be a vet but am ultimately too soft hearted and also fundamentally bad at physics, so working as close to animals as I can is something I am always trying to achieve (right now I am just working with human animals - 12 year old children.) Because my family has a background in dog breeding and training, I got to use those skills to work with animals who had been surrended or impounded because of abuse. It was pretty scary sometimes as the dogs could be really reactive, but it was so amazing working with these beautiful and misunderstood dogs and trying to get them healthy and happy enough to find forever homes. One of the reasons I am coming on this trip is because my partner and I are adopting a puppy at the end of the year, and so I need to get a quick trip to France in before we get the little guy, as the chances of me wanting to leave for an extended period of time will drastically decrease after the puppy arrives!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am looking for a couch/place in Paris: 24th-28th September 2018, 2-4th October 2018.
I make great coffee, can teach yoga and do remedial massage (if the vibe is right...no expectations obviously,) and I am great at both talking and not talking, depending on your preference. I would also love to help my generous and awesome hosts out by maybe helping them out by gifting them some edible treats or a lovely meal out. I will also happily open my home in Australia to you if you ever want to visit. I am using Couch surfing for the first time for this trip, and if this is successful i am going to start hosting people too!

Countries I’ve Visited

China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, France, New Caledonia