Hi there! I am a 20-something PhD student born in Nepal, from Ohio, currently living in Illinois with my boyfriend and my cat. I love cats, Harry Potter, cooking and eating South Asian cuisine, and meditating upon the human experience. (I can't meditate for real, though, but I do practice yoga!)

I am a big nerd - possibly one of the biggest Harry Potter fan you'll ever meet but also very much into Doctor Who, Supernatural, Criminal Minds, The 100, the Marvel and DC universes, X-Men, and any sci-fi/ fantasy TV show or movie that's currently on Netflix or Hulu. My favorite movies are Dead Poets Society, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Atonement, amid countless others. I am an avid Bollywood-lover, too. And...in terms of music, I am more of an indie rock/ indie singer-songwriter kinda person but I do listen to most other things, even if it's just to give them a try.

I am also a big reader, and while I prefer literary fiction and poetry (I have a BA degree in English Literature and Psychology), I'm not *too* much of a book snob. Jhumpa Lahiri, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Edwidge Danticat, Jamaica Kincaid, Ruta Sepetys, and David Levithan are some of my favorite authors. Of the classics, I prefer the Dickens, Shakespeare, and Brontes over Austen (to read - watching Austen is definitely more preferable).

My SO (and travel companion): Danny is a 26-year old student like me, who is way more talented in the music and sciences department. He has a Bachelors in Sound Recording Technology and is working towards his Electrical Engineering Degree. A dog-lover, he is one of the most easy-going, respectful, and earnest people I've ever met and he is very easy to fall in love with (trust me, I would know!)

We both enjoy drinking (anything from wine coolers to whiskey) and love cooking. If you are hosting or staying with us for more than a day or two, you will most likely get to try some of the food we cook, accompanied by tales of travels and interesting conversations about movies, music, culture, and feminism :)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've been Couchsurfing for several years in places all around the U.S. and the world and absolutely enjoy it! Until recently, I had a regular travel companion who already had a CS-profile so I never got around to making one of my own. But here I am, finally! I have a place of my own where I can host 2-3 people and will be hopefully taking shorter trips around the U.S. and the world and I look forward to getting to know more wonderful people through CS like I already have before :)

Interests

• cats
• literature
• cooking
• shopping
• music
• anthropology
• cultural studies
• philosophy
• psychology
• art
• film
• doctor who
• sci-fi
• rock-climbing
• indie music
• harry potter
• museums
• libraries
• supernatural
• fantasy books
• immigration
• tumblr
• bollywood

Music, Movies, and Books

Top Five:

Music: Athlete (the band), Damien Rice, Snow Patrol, Taylor Swift, The Script
Movies: About Time, Atonement, Dead Poets Society, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Books: Americanah, Create Dangerously, Harry Potter (1-7), The Lowland, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm terrified of heights and amusement park rides (thanks, Final Destination) BUT I went on the (at that time's) world's tallest jet coaster when I was in Japan. It felt like my nose was going to touch Mt. Fuji. It was amazing!

Countries I’ve Visited

Denmark, France, India, Japan

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Nepal, Scotland, Thailand, United States