Hi! I'm Emma, 25, from the UK.

I love travelling (surprise!?) rock climbing, hiking, photography and exploring different places and cultures whilst meeting new people. I'm a writer working in the adventure travel sector, but I'm also enjoy watching and playing music, going to the theatre (or any live performance, really!) and cooking.

Besides this, I'm passionate about environmental and social justice and am always very happy to broaden my perspectives by meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds around the world.

So far I've Couchsurfed in only a couple of countries, but every time it was among my most cherished memories on the road. The highlight of any trip, for me, is the people - whether it's in Japan or Jordan, I love meeting people who enjoy going for an adventure in the great outdoors or just having a deep conversation over coffee. :)

I'm super keen to explore some of the hidden gems of your country - especially if it involves hiking or rock climbing! But I also love artsy little corners and historical/political sites.

Soon I'll hopefully be able to host guests with my boyfriend - we live in the countryside in the South West of the UK. It's a bit tricky to get to, but if anyone ventures here, let me know!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To make friends, experience new places with the insight of a local contact, and visit parts of the world I wouldn't otherwise see.

Interests

• arts
• culture
• writing
• singing
• photography
• cooking
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• mountaineering
• rock climbing
• philosophy
• food
• trekking
• learning languages
• theatre
• buddhism
• climbing

Music, Movies, and Books

When it comes to music, my tastes are very jumbled. I love everything from rock, reggae and funk to 'world music', classical music and loads more besides. Red Hot Chili Peppers will always have a special place in my heart from that teen phase. I also enjoy playing the guitar, ukulele and piano (badly) and singing.

My favourite books are too many to list (ex-literature student here!), but a few authors I enjoy include Foster Wallace, Zadie Smith, Coetzee, Earl Lovelace, etc. Recently enjoyed Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing and Trevor Noah's Born a Crime.

I'm very undereducated when it comes to popular films. Some of my favourites are The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Get Out and My Beautiful Laundrette.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In summer 2016, I trekked 1000km across the Pyrenees mountains for charity with my partner, whilst wild camping and carrying 25+kg. It was very difficult - I went several days without eating and climbed many mountains each day, but completed the challenge (almost to my surprise), and learned a lot along the way.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can help people with singing, music, English and basic guitar. I can help beginners learn to rock climb and support in beginner photography.

I'm always keen to learn any new skill, whether it's developing a language, improving my yoga or trying something new like a form of dance!

As a keen (very amateur) cooks and baker, I'd love to share some favourite recipes and meals!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Friendly attitude, open-minded conversation, interest in local culture, help with cleaning/tidying. Language exchange and sharing of skills mentioned above. People to hang out with if you like 😊 Potential for place to stay in UK countryside in future.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Bahrain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Morocco, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom