Hey I'm Lauren and from Kent in England. I've lived abroad and now back in the UK. I stayed with courchsurfers in Australia and New Zealand and I loved meeting people and making new friends.

I seem to gain a different nickname from everyone I spend time with so maybe you'll give me your own nickname. I'm a teacher and photographer but many other things. I've never liked being defined by what I do which I guess is why the world has always called me to explore it and meet people and learn from them as well as get to know myself more too. I'm a creative with a positive outlook on life's ups and downs, a love of exploring , learning and seeing more of this world.

I prefer seeing places by meeting locals and not just seeing a place on the surface through its touristy things.

Always up for meeting friendly people to hang out with and explore, chat and eat together whether you're a local or also travelling.

Please do not message me about meeting up for a date. This is not a dating site!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To connect with people from all over the world. I have a big heart and want the host to feel they have got something genuine out of hosting me. I'm not here just to arrive late at night and go the next morning. I like to meet people who become friends and hope to host them somewhere else in the world in the future!

Interests

I have lots of interests and there's lots I like to do : Live music, trying new food, learning to cook, walking, exploring, books, films, the usual.

I love being creative- photography is my main passion but I also love art and design and any opportunity to create.I love food... Thai food, teppanyaki, Chinese hotpot, soft tacos. Yum!

I have done yoga and dance classes on and off for years. I also love singing and music is a big part of my life. There's a song for every mood. When words fail, music speaks.

I'm really interested in psychology and personal development. The older I get the more I understand about myself and this has been in part from therapy and reflection as well as finding about my personality type- INFP and the Enneagram- 4. Would love to find out even more about this, also interested in learning NLP.

• writing
• photography
• yoga
• meditation
• reading
• music
• travelling
• inspiration
• creativity
• learning new things
• exploring
• self-development

Music, Movies, and Books

Music- all sorts, 80s ,90s, country, pop, RnB , reggae, old skool, acoustic, classical. Depends on my mood.

Books- Most recent read: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Loved it!

Some of my favourites: Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland. Anything by Bill Bryson. I love an autobiography, memoirs and travel writing.

Films- Very wide taste but mainly watch series on Netflix these days.
Love a good documentary especially if its about places I'm visiting/world issues/ historical events/ people visiting unusual places/cultures. Also quite partial to a crime series or something inspiring/ thought provoking.

Some faves: The Kings Speech, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Wonder.
Black Mirror. 13 Reasons Why. Orphan Black.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

-Skydive for charity
-Mount Batur sunrise hike in Bali
-Road tripped around Iceland
-Studied abroad in the US- North Carolina
-Hitchhiked across the Macedonian border
-Wild swimming in Hackney Reservoir
-Taught art and photography at an American summer camp
-Travelled from Austria to Ljubljana by train through the mountains
-Ziplining in the NZ rainforest
-Cruised Milford Sound

Teach, Learn, Share

Photography
Good Food
Sunsets
Life lessons

I love to learn about anything, particularly if it's creative. I love singing, dancing, painting. Maybe we can cook together and share our favourite music.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good company, I love to cook, share experiences, photography tips or go out taking photos (I'm a professional photographer) ,teach English.... anything really. Happy to help around the house.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Greece, Grenada, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United States, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, United States