Hi, I'm Anne. I'm a couch surfer from way back but haven't used it in about ten years or so. I'm 35. I'm an artist and writer. I'm keen on doing things underwater. I swim, snorkel, freedive and take photos underwater. I write. I'm writing a novel at the moment but I also write travel narratives, blogs, poetry etc. (You can read some on my website if you like: www.annemariebasquin.com). I'm also a painter and am trying to make a living from my art. I have sold work but up until now have been working fulltime as well. I'm really excited to have more time while I'm studying to explore and be active instead of working all the time.

I'm quiet and introverted but I like to meet new, interesting people. Love a chilled cup of tea or coffee and a chat or a walk somewhere or a swim. I'm on this really restrictive diet right now to beat candida so I'm not drinking and I love sleeping and usually am in bed by 10 and up early. I'm pesquetarian/vegetarian and happy to eat vegan. My restrictive diet is super weird so it makes it hard to eat out. I can eat Turkish out and eggs or salad but that's about it! Ha. I have a sense of humor about it all though and carry around nuts and eggs with me at all times. :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm starting a Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Auckland in July. I'm moving up to the north island from Dunedin in the south and am planning to live outside of Auckland. I'll be coming in two days a week to attend class and plan to stay at least one night a week in the city. I'm hoping to couch surf as well as stay with friends. It would be a nice way to meet some new people. I have visited Auckland a lot but never lived in Auckland or anywhere in the North Island.

I'm going to be based in Leigh for the rest of the time and would love to meet up with people for swimming and snorkelling at Goat Island or exploring other beaches and areas around outer Auckland that I haven't seen before.

Interests

• animals
• arts
• writing
• photography
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• nature
• exploring
• the ocean
• being underwater

Music, Movies, and Books

Love to read. Can't pick favorites really but a couple of my fave authors are Margaret Atwood, John Irving, Carolyn See, Haruki Murakami. So many more.

Music: Chet Faker/ Nick Murphy, Matt Corby, Greg MacPherson, Current Joys, lots of random stuff. Just read Amanda Palmer's book The Art of Asking (so good!) and am keen to check out her music.

Love movies but can't think of any that I super love off the top of my head. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an old favorite. Will watch all kinds including foreign films, docos, rom coms and dramas. I can't watch or read horror or even thriller/suspense stuff.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Swimming with whales in Tonga.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've been all over, grown up in different places so plenty to share about that. Love writing and helping/encouraging people to write. Can edit too. Love getting people to play around with paint. Have taught Art, Photography and English. I could take your picture. Or do a drawing for you.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm fun and friendly and keen for local adventures that involve walking and swimming or bookstores and op shops (I love op shopping). Plus everything I said in the Teach, Learn, Share section.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Cambodia, France, Malaysia, Myanmar, Niue, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, New Zealand, South Korea, United States

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