Im a friendly, open, sociable person. Im an engineer by profession but my heart is in politics, society and culture. Trying to learn and live life-in either order.

I like to call myself a citizen of the world, who is willing to challenge my own cultural baggage while understanding and embracing new worlds.

PHILOSOPHY:

"Out beyond the idea of Right and Wrong, there's a field: I'll meet you there."
-Rumi.

"We have all hurt someone tremendously, whether by intent or accident. We have all loved tremendously, whether by intent or accident. It is an intrinsic human trait, and a deep responsibility, I think to be an organ and a blade. But learning to forgive ourselves and others because we have not chosen wisely is what makes us human. We make horrible mistakes. We breathe love. It's how we learn. And it is inevitable."
-Anonymous

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet people, share experiences, gain new insights.

Interests

Politics, society, and culture. It started with my interest in politics and religion while I was growing up in Pakistan, where there is SoooOO much of both. Participated in youth conventions, leadership conferences in Pakistan and outside, as much as my parents perception of "safe" would allow. Overtime, with my experience in Europe, my interest in politics and society has become more global, more about finding the means to communicate across cultures, enabling understanding of the "other".

Sports. I have been playing cricket since I could hold a cricket bat. Now I play in the women's team for a club in Nijmegen. Badminton came along the way and I recently learnt swimming which I enjoy a lot. Also into fitness, but more for practical purposes than fun.

Up for any sport that can get my heart rate up and the adrenaline rushing.

Learning to play the guitar.

I love reading, mostly non fiction on politics and society. The fiction I have listed really piqued my interest to be in the list. I used to write but havent written something in quite some time.

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Legends of the Fall, Like Crazy, Her, Broken Circle Breakdown, Boyhood

Books: The Little Prince, The Fifth Mountain, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The hand of Fatima, My Sister's Keeper, Pakistan-A Hard Country, books by Isabelle Allende (I have read one from her so far, and I really enjoyed the frank and open way in which she lays bare the vulnerabilities of her person and her life, almost like you are in conversation with a stranger you know so well.. )

Also enjoy books and articles by Robert Fisk, a British journalist who has covered the Middle East for decades and writes about it with so much emotion while keeping journalistic integrity intact.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, Experiences, Inspirations, Perspective.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, Pakistan, Switzerland