I am a university student from Sydney, Australia who is currently based in Jordan doing a language program in Amman. I have been on overseas since June 2016, doing an internship, studying in Austin, Texas and now studying in Jordan.

I'm very independent, and have travelled extensively through Europe I have also visited Morocco, Turkey, Cuba and Jordan. I love learning new languages and exploring different cultures. I have conversational skills Arabic and French and have briefly lived in Jordan and France.

Please note that I am 100% gluten free for health reasons and will only accept your request for me to host if you tell me in your message that you're okay being gluten free while you stay with me (just inside the house of course)!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My sister has been hosting couch surfers for about a year and has introduced me to the idea. All the couch surfers we have had were very pleasant and friendly - it was interesting to hear about their experiences and we helped them with ideas of what to see in Sydney.

As I am only in this region for a limited amount of time I want to try and get the best insight into each city I visit in the time I have avaliable! I am very competent getting around new cities and exploring but I love hearing about the city from perspectives that you can't usually access during a short trip and won't necessarily find from other travellers.

Interests

I am a very independent person and can usually find most experiencing interesting in a foreign environment (even food shopping!). A typical Friday evening (when I'm not working), you can find me either reading a book with a cup of tea or exploring a new bar or restaurant with my friends. When I'm travelling I love to meet new people and understand their lives and their heritage.

Music, Movies, and Books

I typically read non-fiction though I do love reading literature and poetry. Some books I have read this year include Reading Lolita in Tehran, Nine Parts of Desire, American Priestess: The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spafford and the American Colony in Jerusalem, The Lemon Tree, Muslim Girl: Coming of Age and Rock the Casbah.

Music collection is eclectic: Tori Amos, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Foals, Stars, Gossling, Phoenix, Lykki-Li, Sia, Kylie Minogue. I can pretty much appreciate any music if the company I am in is good - I often go to classical music recitals with my mum in Sydney.

Movies is an interesting topic. I worked at a cinema for almost 5 years and I have seen a lot of movies throughout my life. I like thrillers and action movies, though well-written comedies and romance movies can be enjoyed as well! I haven't seen any new movies in about 6 months, with the exception of Girl on the Train and Nocturnal Animals. Again, like music, I can enjoy most movies as long as the company is good and they don't mind that I might laugh at places that aren't per say funny - badly written or produced movies can make me laugh without a 'valid' reason per say!

Some of my favourite movies include Paris Je T'aime, The Lobster, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Reluctant Fundamentalist, Where Do We Go Now? and Bienveunu Chez les Ch'tis, Les Intouchablesand Chasing Asylum (a documentary about Australia's Asylum Seeker detention system).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Deciding to study in Amman, Jordan without having any contacts in the country or any idea of what would be in store for me. It was an impulsive decision when a program in the UAE fell through and I had the time off work for the period already. Though it was rough in the beginning, in the middle of winter in a country where I honestly couldn't communicate with people and without anyone to explore with, one year on I can see how amazing that experience was for me.

I am currently in Jordan for the 3rd (short) trip and I can now communicate with people to varying levels of success. As someone who has high levels of anxiety and is very introverted, language for me is like theatre or comedy for others. It helps me break through my internal barriers and forces me to communicate with people.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can cook (or probably help you cook!) and help around the house.

Really I'm very open to new experiences and am very helpful so if you need assistance with anything I can usually try and pitch in a best I can.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Poland, Qatar, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, France, Jordan, United States