CURRENT MISSION

To live and be happy, and try to bring happiness to the people I meet (and those I may never meet) along the way.

To gain and share as much wisdom and laughter as possible.

To travel far and wide.

To meet a sloth and a bear in the wilds, not necessarily at the same time.

ABOUT ME

Hello, I’m Mel.

In 2015 I left my job and my home to experience more of the world. Until a year ago I chose not to have a home at all. Instead, I spent my time travelling, working as a live in carer, studying and hanging out with lovely people and animals along way. I realised that a semi nomadic lifestyle very much suited me, and I discovered all sorts of wonderful things.

Travelling has taught me that I'm pretty good at surviving. I learnt I can travel for months without speaking the same language as anyone around me, and yet time and time again, everywhere I go, still experience people's amazing kindness and friendship. I discovered I can hike all alone with my tent and everything I need to survive, high up in the mountains, without even nearly dying. And, I discovered that it's not all that difficult to become an experienced illegal international border crosser, even if it does involve other people’s canoes and motorbikes and guns.

I found that my favourite job so far is living with and caring for people who have dementia. I love the puzzle of discovering who someone is, what makes them happy and sad, what triggers and builds their memories and enables them to feel content and safe in a world that so often must be so very confusing.

After studying social work years ago, I recently (ish) decided I wanted to study again. I knew wanted to learn more about aspects of the world that confused me and didn’t sit well with my values. So I studied a masters in Conflict, Security and Development. I learnt a lot, much of which wasn’t very happy learning, but it did give me a better understanding of perhaps how and why some of our world is like it is.

A year ago I finally found myself a home again, in such a beautiful part of northern England. There are views of hills all around. I can cycle into town in just a few minutes and be out walking in the hills just as quickly. It’s wonderful!

PHILOSOPHY

Smile and learn

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Surf and host

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfed and hosted

Interests

I so very much love nature, and feel completely at peace out in the wilds. One of my favourite places to be is surrounded my mountains. I’ve found I connect with a lot of Buddhist philosophy. And, on and off, I regularly meditate and try and be ever more mindful and appreciative of others, myself and my surroundings. I really enjoy hiking and climbing, yoga and cycling, gardening and eating, and animals. Though not eating animals. I don’t enjoy that at all.

• animals
• environment
• yoga
• meditation
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• scuba diving
• rock climbing
• philosophy
• people
• plants
• jigsaws

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: The Big Lebowski, ARGO, Finding Nemo, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Monty Python films, About a Boy.

Music: (another tiny selection) Frank Turner, Pearl Jam, The Damned, The Cult, Ani Difranco, 69 Eyes, Go Audio, New Model Army, The Goo Goo Dolls, The Mistfits, The Gaslight Anthem, Beans on Toast…

Books: Again lots of different types, but especially books that teach you something.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I once nearly swam into the mouth of a whale shark, and then felt the power of its tale as we both turned to avoid each other. Fortunately it didn’t hit me, but all the same it sent me flying through the water. We should have been more careful in looking where we were going!

Teach, Learn, Share

If you want to say “I will never do it again” in Chichewa (one of Malawi’s national languages), you say “Cindy’s a big shit arsehole”.

I hope to continue learning until I die. And I’m fascinated in life and the world in general.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Well, along with conversation and company (if wanted), I also happen to be able to paint walls, bake cakes, make gardens look nice, and complete jigsaws in what may possibly be record timing. So if you need help with any of those things, then I may be of some use :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom

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