CURRENT MISSION

Optimize our short time available in this life

ABOUT ME

Toos, originally from the Netherlands, and I ,born in New Zealand, are in our late 50's . We are farming livestock on our farm about half an hour from Palmerston North. We enjoy travel ,are well traveled and always enjoy having visitors to experience our neck of the woods. Some of the most enjoyable experiences we have had on our travels are when we have stayed with people and we owe it to the next traveler who comes our way. We live out in the country and so tend to attract only the real genuine travelers who want to experience our rural lifestyle in New Zealand . It is very much a two way street with the world and enterprising people coming to stay with us and it is such a pleasure to share our little slice of life with our visitors

PHILOSOPHY

Treat others like you would like them to treat you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Toos and I are thoughtful considerate people who will always go the extra mile . We specialize in not taking the easy road and so don't want guests who are not also prepared to give a little ie help with the cooking ,cleaning, dishes etc. Our moto "Help with the dishes and doors will open " !

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Just joined Coach Surfers so can't comment but have stayed with a number of Woofer ,Stay4free and Global freeloader hosts over the years and experienced wonderful hospitality Have had over 400 guests to stay over 30 years here on the farm with only 2 that have let us down !! Not too bad !Stayed on a Croft on the Island of Iona on the West Coast of Scotland many years ago and probably would not have spent a month there except for our quest to experience different lifestyles

Interests

Farming is our business and our pleasure We have 3 sons, also passionate about farming ,who are currently at University studying Farm Business
Travel is probably our greatest interest and meeting enterprising people who share our passion for life and adventure is always fun We do have a hobby of hosting guests on Farmstay / B+B www.hiamoefarmstay.co.nz but also have many guests who just turn up and stay ! Toos visited for a farm experience while on an 8 month cycling journey round New Zealand about 22 years ago!
We are "can do" people who relish taking on challenges

• arts
• cooking
• coach
• traveling
• cycling
• camping
• business
• social work

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

We have made 3 overseas journeys with our sons . First trip to Europe for 12 months when our boys were around 7 years old Second trip to Australia on a camping excursion into the Out Back when the boys were about 11 and finally our greatest family adventure was to India for6 weeks

Toos spent 3 years in Africa as a social worker about 30 years ago
John has traveled extensively round the U.S. and Mexico and remembers riding in the driver's compartment of a passenger train on a journey high on a mountain pass in Mexico

Teach, Learn, Share

The Art of Conversation !!!

It all begins by learning to ask questions , listening and taking an interest in other people ,rather than talking about yourself !!

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, New Zealand