I teach children about insects and carry out insect surveys for conservation. I'm a member of an intercultural choir and love to share and learn songs from around the world. I also have a creative practice which involves elements of both. I'm currently on a four month career break, staying with friends around Europe, hoping to return to Ireland (or find somewhere new to live) with my passion and energy for my work reignited, with a clearer vision of how and where I want to live and work, and feeling well rested and refreshed (I'm also recovering from long covid). I'm learning about the Work that Reconnects and looking for ways to incorporate it into my work, as well as finding ways to connect people with nature to benefit mental health. As I travel I am working on identifying moths (from photographs) for a survey I carried out at an eco-community in Ireland where I lived during the pandemic, as well as developing my workshop ideas and writing about small things which can teach us big lessons about living in community with each other and the rest of nature. However, so far I have been having too much fun to get much work done! :-D

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm currently traveling around Portugal and Spain, staying with friends who live here, and contemplating some career and life changes. I'm looking for additional hosts in nice places where I can stop to rest along the way, between the places where my friends live.

Interests

On this trip I'm really hoping to do lots of wild swimming, nature walks, finding insects, singing with other people, dancing (I love to make playlists for dancing at home), meditating, cooking and eating good food. I'm really interested in talking about different ways to live and work, psychology, community, nature, relationships, how to be compassionate and find meaning in this complex world. I'm trying to listen better and understand more.

• wildlife
• singing
• dancing
• yoga
• meditation
• reading
• drawing
• podcasts
• music
• karaoke
• swimming
• food
• sleep
• the work that reconnects

Music, Movies, and Books

Currently listening to Verde mi Sangre, Rojo tus Hojas, the new eco-album from La Barca.
Reading Active Hope (How to face the mess we're in with unexpected resilience and creative power) by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone.
Best movie I've watched recently is Cha Cha Real Smooth.
Devouring the following podcasts: Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble, Where is My Mind? with Niall Breslin, and The Blindboy Podcast.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I just cooked an amazing potato, carrot, orange, coconut and cashew nut curry for the friends I'm staying with.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can take you on an insect walk, though the insects are different here from Ireland so I will be relying heavily on apps and books! Songs from around the world. Recipes. Amateur massages. Hugs.

I want to learn about how other people are living, working, facing the challenges of life, see what suits me or doesn't suit me and from that figure out how I want to live.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Madagascar, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ireland, Madagascar, Romania

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