"When life comes knocking at your door. Open it".

A wise man once said about Couchsurfing (FL, 2024)

"EXPECT NOTHING and APPRECIATE EVERYTHING!"

Hello! I'm Julie 😊

I am SO grateful 💙💙 for the CS 🛋️🛋️ opportunities that I have had.

I was a teacher for over 25 years. Now I travel, write and volunteer.

Meeting interesting and like minded travellers. 🌍🌍 I am VERY HAPPILY MARRIED.

Couchsurfing is a great community that I am proud to be part of.

I HOST

(PLEASE READ MY HOME SECTION. THERE ARE IMPORTANT DETAILS FOR SURFERS)

If you are in London for a while, COME AND VISIT US. We will give you a proper local, TRADITIONAL COUNTRYSIDE EXPERIENCE.

** I live on the ESSEX WAY, a LONG DISTANCE COUNTY FOOTPATH. Perfect for surfers walking from HARWICH to EPPING. We possibly can host more people if you let us know**

I SURF

(South America, Europe, Asia and Africa so far) and...

I LEAD COUCHSURFING EVENTS in my local area of Essex.
This has been a great experience, meeting so many different people and making new friends. We are often joined by visiting Couchsurfers.

I HAVE JUST ACHIEVED MY DREAM TO BECOME A COUCHSURFING AMBASSADOR.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE - January 2024 ( yes it took 8 years before I used Couchsurfing)

I was hosted for the first time by Salem in Saudi Arabia. I had visited the country previously but It was an amazing first experience of Couch Surfing. IT WAS MY 103 COUNTRY! 🇸🇦!

Now I am up to COUNTRY 129 - MAURITANIA 🇲🇷🇲🇷🇲🇷

🌍🌍 UPCOMING TRAVELS 🌎🌎

AUG 2025 - 🇦🇩Andorra🇦🇩 ☑️

SEP 2025 - 🇫🇮Finland🇫🇮 ☑️ 🇸🇪Sweden🇸🇪 ☑️

NOV 2025 - 🇿🇦South Africa🇿🇦 ☑️🇿🇼 Zimbabwe🇿🇼☑️
🇱🇸Lesotho 🇱🇸 ☑️

DEC 2025 - 🇲🇿Mozambique🇲🇿 ☑️, 🇹🇿Tanzania🇹🇿☑️
🇰🇲Comoros🇰🇲☑️, 🇧🇮Burundi🇧🇮 ☑️
🇷🇼Rwanda🇷🇼 ☑️ 🇺🇬Uganda🇺🇬 ☑️

JAN 2026 - 🇨🇮Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 ☑️ 🇲🇷Mauritania 🇲🇷☑️

NOV 2026 🇬🇲Gambia🇬🇲

About me..

I would describe myself as a dreamer, independent, open minded, compassionate, adventurous.

For me travel is enriched by MEETING PEOPLE who live in the country I travel to.

🌳💚IMPORTANT: I eat mainly VEGETARIAN FOOD.
This is a personal choice. My husband eats everything so I am not judgemental or wanting to be judged. 💚🌳

I have been lucky to have been travelling for over 3 decades. In some ways I am very organised and disciplined, in others I like to see what opportunities arise and JUST SAY YES! Go with the flow, don't worry.

I think I am a good communicator and often prefer to listen. But I am confident too.

I LOVE BEING OUT IN NATURE. 🌲🌲🌊🌊🏜️🏜️ It fills me with wonder, peace and appreciation. Oceans, hills, deserts, forests.

I have a languages book 📘📘📘 that travels with me that has beautiful entries from friends I have made. Many pieces in different scripts.

I love photography, 📷📷 even if I just have my phone to use

WHY I TRAVEL AS A COUCHSURFER...

December 2023- I returned from my first trip to Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦 with a friend. We organised it ourselves and one night I was invited to join a group of ladies at a Wedding Party by one of the husbands. My male friend went with him and I walked alone into the female area. The encounter that followed with these ladies was precious beyond words but required COURAGE TO WALK IN.

It's these kind of experiences I am interested in. Meeting and connecting with people. Finding similarities and respecting differences.

2026 COUCHSURFING LIFE

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet inspirational people, to learn from them and spend time with them. 😊

To push my limits by saying yes! Even if I go outside of my comfort zone.💯

To meet creative people, I love to write and listen to world music (despite not playing an instrument).😊🥰🎻

I am LEADING MULTIPLE COUCH SURFING EVENTS IN MY AREA 🇬🇧🇬🇧 to give back to this wonderful community... countryside walks, folk nights, watching Morris Dancing.
Also in the past I have hosted international friends before CS, including someone from Madagascar. 🇲🇬🇲🇬

Interests

Travel 🌎
Meeting people from different cultures
Planning travel 🌎
Writing (Book 1 is in progress, Book 2 is in progress in my head 😂).
Travel as much as possible on a budget 😍
Reading📗
Travel vlogs and podcasts 🌎
World cuisine 🥑🧀🍍
World music 🎷🎻🎼

• writing
• poetry
• reading
• traveling
• folk music
• world music
• hiking
• art
• nature
• people
• theatre
• conversation
• kindness
• museums
• galleries
• listening
• gratitude
• giving back
• inspirational people
• travel vlogs
• planning a trip
• oceans and seas
• stars and the moon
• walking in magical places
• our beautiful planet

Music, Movies, and Books

I like world, classical and Indie music .

Movies: Godfather 1 and 2, Gladiator, Elf
Shawshank redemption...has one of my favourite quotes
"You've got to get busy living, or get busy dying".

I have read a lot of classical literature.
I also adore travel writing.
I ALSO ADORE BOOKS THAT GIVE YOU A NEW PERSPECTIVE!!
Can I RECOMMEND the book War Doctor by Doctor David Nott...After reading this my life changed forever.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Can I choose 2 😂

I helped raise enough money for 6 SURGEONS TO BE TRAINED IN TRAUMA MEDICINE. They then can train others to help deal with the awful injuries suffered by civilians in War Zones. (Charity: David Nott Foundation).

I went to MEDINA , SAUDI ARABIA IN DEC 2023 with my dear friend and spent time visiting many mosques on MY BIRTHDAY!🇸🇦🇸🇦

Teach, Learn, Share

I can help you with travel tips and advice. 🌎

I can help you with English, as an ex teacher and being TEFLA qualified.👩‍🏫

I can learn from you, everyone has something to share. I can listen carefully. 😍

I can share some of my favourite stories from my travels. 🌎

What I Can Share with Hosts

I AM VERY ENCOURAGING, if you need that final push to act, I am the person who can help.

My mantra is IF NOT NOW, WHEN? To help people realise that action is needed, life is precious, short and sometimes we need to live it for those who can't.

I love to laugh, I am humorous apparently!

I am a considerate guest, who is willing to help.

I am open minded and can share many stories from my travels.

Countries I’ve Visited

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Wales, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Macedonia