DISCOVERY ADDICT eager to hear your story!

PHILOSOPHY

Learning
Loving
Trusting
Discovering
Growing

CURRENT MISSIONS

- To recognise how much beauty this world offers, and 'be the change' by helping to heal it :)

- To bring people together in communities across the world through the communication art of Authentic Relating, as well as embodiment practices such as Ecstatic Dance and Internal Family Systems.

- To cultivate my passion for languages - currently learning Spanish, German and French :)

- To connect with inspiring individuals and understand their outlook

ABOUT ME

My name is Laurie, a Bristolian with roots in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Wellington and Melbourne. I travel because people fascinate me, and I owe a lot to couch surfing for feeding this wanderlust :) my ongoing mission is to connect with and learn from as much of this planet as possible, understanding each person's unique outlook.

One of my ultimate passions is food: from growing, to acquiring, to cooking, to eating. Food is an integral part of every culture, and I love how it can really bring people together. I find a lot of joy in cooking up dishes to share with hosts, and would like the opportunity to 'give back' through this tasty medium :-) I especially enjoy experimenting with vegan cooking (veggies rock!), but am happy to use animal products if you prefer. The most important thing is that it nourishes your body and delights your tastebuds!

I am currently residing in the Amsterdam, Netherlands, facilitating 'Authentic Relating' workshops (see my website: itoiauthenticrelating.com) and body work as a massage therapist.

I have previously opened a 'Rescued Food' shop in Edinburgh, Scotland. See link for more deets!
https://www.facebook.com/lovefoodhatewastescotland/videos/vb.141571689237379/297721894284236/?type=2&;theater

A little more about me...
I'm a joker. My accent is a bizarre hybrid. I love coffee and cake just as much as chia and oats. I often sing in the streets. I try to meditate daily. I love yoga. I am often reading three books at the same time (a self help book; a novel; and a history book). My heart is wide open. I give long hugs. I want to hear your story!

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ADICTO DE DESCUBRIMIENTO / CORAZÓN GRANDE entusiasmado por oír tu historia!

FILOSOFÍA

Aprender
Amar
Confiar
DESCUBRIR

PRESENTE MISIONES

- Reconocer la belleza de nuestro mundo, y ayudar a curarlo

- Abrir mi mente y corazón

- Cultivar mi obsesión con la idioma de español

ACERCA DE MI

Mi nombre es Laurie (o Lorenzo), un viajero con hogares en Inglaterra, Escocia y Nueva Zelanda. Me gusta viajando porque la gente me fascina, y estoy muy feliz que couch surfing se existe, alimentando este fascinación :) quiero conectar con esta planeta, cultivando el regalo de la vida. Tal vez tú estarás parte de la próxima capítulo... espero que sí!

Tengo pasión por comida: de cultivando, a encontrar, a cocina, a comer. Comida es un integral parte de cada cultura, y me encanta la manera que reúne la gente. Me alegro que cocina para anfitrións, y me gustaría tener la oportunidad de 'intercambio' por este modo. Especialmente, y disfruto experimentando con vegan cocina (me encanta verduras!) pero estoy feliz usando productos de animales si quieres. La más importante cosa es que tienes alimento para tu cuerpo y paladar!

Un poco más...

Soy bromista. Tengo un acento extraño. Me encanta el cafe y los pasteles tanto como chia y avena. A menudo yo canto en la calle. Yo trato practicar meditación cada día. Me encanta yoga. La mayoría de mis amigas son mujeres. Mi corazón es abierto. Yo doy abrazos largos. Quiero escuchar de tu historia!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm here to both travel and host. What a great way to meet some potentially amazing people!

I joined couch surfing as it seems like the perfect way to actually be involved in the place you travel to, rather than merely gazing in ignorance. I believe that spending time with people that actually live/work/study in the place you stumble upon as a visitor is the BEST way to really experience it.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

The more I couchsurf, the more faith I have in the kindness of strangers. Hospitality is a truly global phenomenon.

Interests

Wanderlust. Hitch-hiking. Laughter. Meditation. Yoga. Massage. Authentic Relating. Queerness. Architecture. Photography. Film. Urban gardening. Abandoned buildings. Festivals. Glitter. Dancing. Chilling. Naked swimming. Vegan cooking. Organic veggies. Black coffee. Herbal tea. Curries. Salads. Desserts. Spiritual Ecology. Feminism. Philosophical ramblings. Long walks/cycle rides. Dusk. Summer. Road trips. People. Knowledge. 'Be'ing.

LIVING!

• arts
• architecture
• photography
• beauty
• festivals
• dancing
• womens rights
• dining
• cooking
• desserts
• organic food
• yoga
• massage therapy
• meditation
• gardening
• cycling
• hiking
• ecology
• geography
• sociology
• hitchhiking
• road trips
• urban exploration
• laughing
• massage
• vegan cooking
• authentic relating

Music, Movies, and Books

Amadou and Miriam, Anoushka Shankar, Junip, Fat Freddy's Drop. Sigur Ros, Caravan Palace, Iron & Wine, Justice, Fleetwood Mac, Rokia Traore, Phaeleh, Bonobo, Shpongle, Thievery Corporation, Belle & Sebastian, Camera Obscura, The xx, Arcade Fire, Portishead, Moby, Four Tet, Don McLean.... That kinda thing.
But my mind is always open!

I like films & books that change my mind/make me think harder about something.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A 10 day vipassana course in Thailand: coming into deeper connection with 'being'.

Con Fest, NSW, Australia:
http://www.confesthippy.com/

Sines Festival Músicas do Mundo, Portugal
http://fmm.com.pt/en/

Luminate Festival, New Zealand
http://www.luminatefestival.co.nz/

Partying the night away amongst the echoing installations of Bilbao's Guggenheim, Spain.

Whale watching from the skies, Kaikoura, New Zealand.

Seeing the world turn crimson & feeling the thickness of the air during a monsoon sunset, Lumbini, Nepal.

WOOFing on a yoga retreat in Kas, Turkey.

Feeling the thermal waters of Budapest transform my body.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a keen photographer and cook, so happy to share any related wisdom :)

I teach Authentic Relating games, and very happy to share these methods with you. You can learn more through my website: itoiauthenticrelating.com.

And my mind remains very open to receiving ever more wisdom!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm very happy to attempt to cook up a delicious vegan meal - I'm a food lover / flavour experimenter.

I am trained in Swedish massage and always carry delicious oils with me :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Laos, Macao, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom