Badges (4)
Photos
Profile information
Travel information
We are currently
Travelling
Activities we are interested in:
eco-communities, permaculture, spiritual communities, photography, creative projects
Description
We're a creative, permaculture-minded Australian couple who are traveling in Europe for the first time with our 8 month old baby Luna, who is delighting people along the way! Although we live in a beautiful home and community back home, we're seeking inspiration from other homes and communities that we connect with along the way. We love simple, conscious living (we've lived in a tent for 5months in the forest!), and hope to find inspiring other examples!
Some more detail about us:
MICHAEL: (we've just joined so Sorell hasn't had time to add her section yet!)
I'm a human-being firstly, and if you need labels, words like changemaker/researcher/traveler/socialentrepeneur can describe me... I'm very grateful about being alive at this time and all the opportunities to give and receive... we live in an incredibly beautiful world which would take thousands of lifetimes to explore (but I'll give it a shot:)
Spending early years growing up on a farm gave me a life-long connection with the natural world and it remains my #1 passion to protect and enhance it. I've pursued this through environmental activism, ecological art, running behaviour change programs in NGOs and government, and participatory storytelling.
My parents are from different cultures (anglo-asian) so I've always been interested in trying to understand how the world can be seen through the different sides of the prism.
I poured my heart and mind into a PhD in cross-cultural environmental photo-storytelling a few years ago, and now I'm doing the same raising a beautiful 6month old baby Luna with my partner Sorell (well with more heart than mind!).
BTW - as we just joined we don't have any reviews yet... but my couchsurfing profile has 45 references:
https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/michaelchew
also see our fb accounts here:
https://www.facebook.com/michael.chew.56/
https://www.facebook.com/sorell.wilson
Interests
GardeningBooksCultureCampingCooking & foodFarmingOutdoor activitiesYoga / WellnessVideographyVegetarian or veganSustainabilitySelf developmentPolitics / Social justicePhotographyNatureEvents & socialDancingCharity workArt & designAnimals
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Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentMore details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Life at a Farmstay
Gardening
General Maintenance
Some knowledge of:
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Teaching
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Able to teach about:
Eco Projects
Charity Work
Art Projects
Languages
Babysitting and creative play
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
Most aptly described in my prof bio:
Dr Michael Chew is an environmentalist, action-researcher, and photographer/designer with degrees in participatory design, social ecology, art photography, critical theory and mathematical physics. He has a background in community-based sustainability programs in non-profit and local government and is passionate about using creativity to empower communities. He co-founded the Melbourne Environmental Arts Festival, a multi-venue community arts festival, and has coordinated various social and environmentally focused creative participatory projects. His international perspectives come from involvement in a range of grassroots global solidarity initiatives: co-founding the NGO Friends of Kolkata to coordinate international volunteer programmes and teach participatory photography; working in Bangladesh on community-based climate adaptation; co-founding the Friends of Bangladesh climate justice solidarity group. He recently completed an action-research PhD exploring how participatory photography can inspire environmental behaviour change across Bangladesh, China and Australia, and a Rotary Peace Fellowship, and currently runs youth environmental storytelling programs.
Practical skills include basic DIY/carpentry, gardening, bike maintenance, permaculture, facilitation
my environmental/creative projects are here:
https://www.ecoimagine.org/
Age
44 & 41
What else ...
PHILOSOPHY:
"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing."
- Arundhati Roy
"Those who cannot hear the music think the dancers are mad" - Anonymous
WHY I"M ON WORKAWAY?
Because I think its an awesome way of meeting and contributing to amazing people and places all around the world!
Myself and my partner are taking 4 months to experiment with traveling as a little family with baby Luna - she brings so much joy to everyone around us here in Australia that we're excited about seeing what joy she can bring abroad!
INTERESTS:
Social change, Reading, Dancing, Physics, Philosophy, Psychology, Cooking Up Great Food, Long Conversations, Climbing Trees, Adventures, Photography, experimental travel...
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Special dietary requirements
vegetarian
Feedback
We had a good time but unfortunately very bad weather. It was not really possible to do anything in the garden and still Michael did quite a lot of weeding. We didn't ask for that in such bad weather but are still very grateful for his work and also for cooking in the evening.
The three are just a… read more
Friends
Feedback
We had a good time but unfortunately very bad weather. It was not really possible to do anything in the garden and still Michael did quite a lot of weeding. We didn't ask for that in such bad weather but are still very grateful for his work and also for cooking in the evening.
The three are just a… read more
