Good day!

I am Claire from Cape Town, South Africa; a young traveler and scholar loose upon the world in constant search of epiphanies, cheap döner and cobblestone avenues. It's a pleasure to meet you!

Currently I'm learning Italian and Spanish although my main language is English. I am a painter, occasional writer, gardener, carpenter of various small things and I am always keen to learn more about everything.
Being outside, with a book or on a bike is my favourite place. Sunsets!

I am clean, a good breakfast-maker, and considerate. That I am empathetic and unimposing and kind. I hope you will you find these to be true!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The best way to experience a culture, city, place, or language is through the people that give it life. The people who live within an empire, no matter how massive or daunting, will know everything about it's glory and underbelly that curious outsiders can only dream of. It's far more friendly and humane and a lovely, slightly forgotten tradition of welcoming people into your home.

Interests

• writing
• dancing
• bachata
• walking
• board games
• chess
• traveling
• painting
• music
• hiking
• backpacking
• surfing
• swimming
• sushi
• climbing

Music, Movies, and Books

The entirety of the jazz-fusion band Cat Empire!
Joao and Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz. Nina Simone, Pavarotti! Paolo Nutini, Mariam Makeba, Joni Mitchell, Charles Bradley, Amy Winehouse, Radiohead, the South African band Goldfish, Queen and naturally ABBA. Red Hot Chili Peppers of course, Billy Joel, the Italian singer Mina. Manouche (also SA, check them out, really cool upbeat funk/ jazz), any kind of Balkan music, Caravan Palace, Manu Chao, Cesaria Evora.

Films; the Iron Giant, Fiddler on the Roof, any Wes Anderson, Spirited Away, the Kings Speech, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Biutiful, Mar Adentro, Princess Kaguya, Triplets of Belleville, Waking Life, Danish Girl, Shine, My Fathers Glory, My Mother's Castle, Amélie.

And too, books; The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Naturally Lord of the Rings and too some Roald Dahl and some Dr Seuss for the childhood. Women Who Run With The Wolves, any work of Rumi and Poalo Neruda's 'Extravaganza.' 'A Thousand Years of Solitude' by García Márquez.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Worked and lived for a few days deep within forests in a little village called Pai, in Thailand, just off borders with Laos and Myanmar. We worked on a sanctuary to rehabilitate elephants who were rescued from circuses and some darker corners of Thai tourism. It involved getting to know them and their fears, joys, feeding, bathing, walking with them in the heart of the jungle.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you some dance moves! Basic swing and “sokkie” from South Africa!

What I Can Share with Hosts

My banana pancake recipe. Some Afrikaans language teaching and dance moves. Swing dancing, how to make unstoppably amazing chocolate chip cookies. Wondrous, odd music. A connection in South Africa!

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Italy, Namibia, Netherlands, Spain, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Africa