My mother hitchhiked around Europe in the 60s, so I guess travel must be in the blood. I'm an Irishwoman who has just spent two years in Scotland, so you'd think I would be used to the rain. However, I fancied some Mediterranean living and so I'm taking myself off to Spain. Valencia, to be specific: Spain's third largest city and home to paella and oranges.

I've been there before, for three days in October 2003, but living there should be very different. TEFL cert in hand, I hope to find some work teaching English. Also, my Spanish so far consists of "una cerveza, por favor" (a beer, please) and "donde esta los servicios?" (where are the loos?), so I'm hoping to improve on that.

Some facts about me that may (or may not) be interesting:

• I was born in Sheffield, England, but moved to Ireland at age 2 so I don't remember it much. I do like stainless steel, though.


• I grew up with five brothers. This means that I am disgusted less easily than most women.


• Favourite books include Red Branch by Morgan Llwellyn, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.


• Swimming with dolphins is cool and everyone should do it at least once. Watching puffins comes reasonably close.


• I love salsa dancing, and hope to find a club in Valencia. And to be able to follow instructions in Spanish (well, at least I know my "uno, dos, tres")


• I once stayed at the BootsnAll hostel in Eugene, Oregon