Hi, there!

We are Telma & Thomas, a couple from London and the travel bloggers behind Blank Canvas Voyage website. We are ready to explore the world, meet people from the Deaf Community and volunteer in various projects.

Telma is originally from Loulé, a city in central Algarve, in Portugal. By the age of 15 she moved to Lisbon, Portugal's capital city, to study. By the age of 21 she moved to London, where she finished her BA Marketing Communications Degree.
A few years ago, while watching a movie, she saw a girl using Sign Language in order to communicate with her father, and the day after she searched for British Sign Language courses in London. Since that day in August 2012 she has never looked back.
She is multi-Lingual, fluent in English, Portuguese and British Sign Language. Lived in London for 11 years, and has been volunteering in the Deaf Community since 2013. Telma is a keen traveller and enjoy immersing herself in new cultures.

Thomas is originally from London, United Kingdom and is Profoundly Deaf. He grew up in a Hearing family, making him bi-lingual in oral English and British Sign Language. Thomas has been involved in sports since a very young age, from Tennis, Basketball to Football, where he has achieved various medals and trophies along the way. He has travelled to various countries in Europe and Internationally making him also fluent in International Sign.
Thomas is also a filmmaker and has been part in various projects in the Film Industry. Check his website out: thomaspgiddens.com.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

We are new to the site and our aim is to meet the "real" locals. To absorb all their knowledge about the places we are visiting, the culture and the language.
The aim is to see the world through the locals' eyes.

We will be travelling long term, but there is nothing like "home". Couchsurfing would mean for us to stay in a place with a new family.

Also our aim is to meet people from the Deaf Community all over the world. There is so much more to learn from the Deaf Culture.

We cannot wait to emerge ourselves in different cultures, meet new people, explore lots of destinations and make new friends.

Interests

Our interests are pretty much the same :)

Eat local
Street Markets
Go to Museums
Long walks on Sunday morning
Waking up in the morning and plan the day ahead without rushing around
Go to social gatherings
Meeting new people and Learning new Languages
Create Memories
Open Minded People
Trekking
Camping
Exploring new places

• pets
• culture
• dining
• cooking
• traveling
• socializing
• camping
• sports
• basketball
• soccer
• tennis
• communications
• languages
• sign language
• volunteering

Teach, Learn, Share

We can teach you:
British and International Sign Language

We can share:
Lovely Portuguese & British meals

What I Can Share with Hosts

We are very humble people that like to talk for hours and learn from people. We are truly passionate about travelling and exploring hidden places.

Telma:
Speaks 3 different languages I Is qualified to teach English I Can cook yummy food I Is very spontaneous and outgoing I Geneours I Loves Pets

Thomas:
Fluent in Sign Language I Humble I Quick Learner I Organised I Curious I Adaptable

Countries I’ve Visited

Barbados, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Portugal