It’s wonderful to be travelling again and to be apart of Couchsurfing. Couchsurfing has been such an incredible experience when I was travelling for 7 years solo. Now, I made the mistake of getting a real job and a flat. Naturally I left that behind for a few months to get back into travelling, meeting people, cultures and having adventures.

While I could write about; all the countries I've visited, the adventures I've been on, the wonderful people I've met and how these experiences have affected my life. I don't think they really define me.
So here's a quote from that brilliant series sense8, to help you understand who I am.

“Who am I?
I guess who I am, is exactly the same as you are. Not better than, not less than.
Because there is no one who has been or will ever be exactly the same as either you or me."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The traditional answer is 'because I love meeting people' well, it may not be an original answer, but it's true.

I did my dissertation on the ancient Greek law of xenia. What xenia means is 'guest friendship'- basically throughout the centuries these law kept changing and soon become more of a political stance, but the ideology is that- A stranger comes to your house and you invite them in.
The Greek god Zeus is the protector of guests. He embodied the religious obligation to be hospitable to travelers.
Both host and guest have various rules e.g- no stealing, offer bathing facilities, be curtisous and polite etc... Then at the end of the stay the guest and host have a bond which is then passed down on to the next generation. And you're basically friends for life. This is how I see couch surfing, a modern version of my dissertation subject, hahah!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Having been on Couchsurfing for a few years it's been wonderful, meeting loads of people and seeing how different people live. After five years of traveling I have a huge couch surfing and hitchhiking debt to pay off and finally I have space, an inflatable mattress and some awesome housemates who can aid me in paying off this enormous debt.

But another big thing for me hasn't just been staying in peoples houses but also the social life. In Zaragoza, these Couchsurfing events are how I've met some of my closest friends, where every weekend we would meet up and plan something different, from playing card games to touch rugby in the park to volunteering with dogs.

Interests

Kayaking, Triathlons, Hiking, Running, Cycling, Theatre, Cooking, World Travel, Surfing, Swimming, Sailing and Star Constellations.

• dogs
• cooking
• triathlon
• running
• board games
• traveling
• socializing
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• surfing
• rugby
• volunteering
• ancient history
• dungeons and dragons
• ancient egypt

Music, Movies, and Books

Films-

Hot Fuzz
Jeux dénfants (Love me if you dare)
The Birds
Kubo and the Two Strings
Any Marvel film

Books

Currently reading- La isla bajo del mar.

Oblivion- Anthony Horowitz
The Wool Trilogy- Hugh Howey
The Chrysalids- John Wyndham

Music- love anything really. Not a big fan of heavy metal, but really like- Imogen Heap, Koda, Foals, Florence and the machine, the 1975 and many more.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Being able to travel for years and still have great relationship with friends and family from back home.

Teach, Learn, Share

Well, I'm always up for learning about new cultures, daily life in a new place and maybe even some new fun skills.
I feel like all three of those things are combined really.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I feel like sharing is a combined thing. Everyone has interests and hidden talents. Its all about being willing to learn and experience what the other person can teach you in return.
I can also share with you my old travel plans about other countries. I have a few written up; Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Cuba, Thailand... and I do need to write up more to help out other travellers.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Italy, Laos, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam, Wales, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, England, France, New Zealand, Spain, Wales