ABOUT ME

I lived in Thailand for about 2 1/2 years where I met my husband (a Thai extreme rescue worker, photographer, climbing guide and fire artist). I traveled to Thailand for a month long vacation (after a short track speed skating injury forced me into early retirement) and just refused to go home.
*We now have a toddler

PHILOSOPHY

I live and learn through travel, culture, study, networking, business, sports and social activities. I strongly believe in education but also believe that not all education is taught and learned in school. For me, it's all about being the best student no matter where I am or what I'm doing.

I am an optimist (who tries not to be too naïve). My motto is: "You must have a plan in order to change it." I always have big long term plans but try to stay grounded and realistic while I am on the road to achieving them.

My roads change often as I grow and learn but the scale of my dreams and goals never shrink. I aim high but I enjoy the smaller trips that get me there.

I really miss and enjoyed the slower paced lifestyle I lived in Thailand.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We live in a 3 bedroom townhouse that backs on to a soccer field and park in Edmonton. We have a spare room but we also have a toddler and a dog. So, if you don't mind staying with a young family and are not allergic or afraid of dogs then we'd be happy to have your company, take you somewhere interesting or suggest fun events to attend or things to do in and around the city.

Interests

-Cultural & educational travel are my favorite. But I do also love a good adventure and the sun;)

-Sports/activities: I'd like to think I'll try just about anything once.

-Wine and coffee are two good friends of mine: I LOVE them both equally! (tea is also now sneaking it's way into my favorites too)

-I really like reading and learning. I mostly read non-fiction and will take every educational opportunity that comes my way. From parenting, climbing & yoga classes to human rights, political and business seminars. I am always curious and will never stop learning (hopefully inspiring others along the way)

• dogs
• culture
• spas
• education
• human rights
• dining
• wine
• coffee
• yoga
• walking
• clothing
• reading
• traveling
• sports
• rock climbing
• soccer
• track and field
• business
• teaching
• tourism
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I like pretty much all types of books and movies but my favorites are usually documentaries, true stories, biographies & travel.

My music is too varied and my favorites change too often to name. Every day is different. (but I don't like country or my husbands awful death metal)

My favorite TV shows though would have to be MasterChef (because I'm a terrible cook and those people amaze me) and The Social (those strong, smart independent women are my daily guilty pleasure/inspiration)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I gave up all my possessions back home in Canada to stay in Thailand where I met my Thai husband.

I first got a job as an English teacher at a very poor high school. I loved it but barely made enough to pay for my visa runs, let alone other necessities such as food, rent and laundry. So, when I met a sweet Filipino women one night while eating dinner who turned out to be a well-known English teacher for the extremely wealthy in Bangkok. I jumped at the opportunity this presented. I got a job teaching the kindergarten class at a prestigeous girls boarding school and began to live a little more comfortably with security at my new-old (rundown) apartment that featured safe (during the day) streets and a train stop walking distance so I could easily visit my (then)boyfriend a 12hr train ride south on the weekends and vice versa for less than $5. It was 3rd class, but I've always enjoyed people watching and seeing how most of the locals commute was interesting to me. The trips back and forth eventually began to take it's toll though and I decided to move to the south and start all over again.

My, now, husband and I lived in a tent on Samui island with everything we owned fitting into our backpacks, living off (his) paycheck to paycheck until I got a job house-sitting a guesthouse for a few months while the Finish owner went off to Phuket to be an extra for a movie being filmed there.

I soon after found a job teaching English camps and western manners to staff at five star resorts, spas and restaurants which earned my husband and I enough to rent a tiny bungalow just off the beach in the jungle.

After the 2004 tsunami, we volunteered (my husband in the south and me with the Red Cross blood donation and clothing sorting station in Bangkok) and rescued a survivor puppy, whom we raised and eventually brought back to Canada with us and still have to this day.

We also now have a little one taking over and redirecting our lives.

I love randomness so I have many stories but this one tops them all...so far ;);)

Teach, Learn, Share

Yes!

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Cambodia, Canada, El Salvador, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Thailand