CURRENT MISSION

Go a bridge too far

ABOUT ME

I was born in Boston, grew up mostly outside Washington, D.C., and have returned back to Boston for college. With very frequent visits to family in New York City (located midway between my two), the Big Apple has also become the hometown I never had.

I have always had an interest in traveling and like comparing cities from around the world, leading to my interest in civil engineering and urban planning. And, while I have had the chance to travel with family around the United States, only now have I had the time and opportunity to explore far-flung parts of the world with a degree of independence. For two consecutive summers, I have worked abroad, and I hope to continue that streak in 2010 (after spending the academic year in the UK).

My trip to Cairo in August 2008 confirmed my long-standing fascination with the Arab world and I imagine one day I'll find a permanent home in the City of a Thousand Minarets.

PHILOSOPHY

I enjoy meeting people from different religions and cultures; that's why I travel.

For me, the most important part of traveling isn't the temples and monuments one sees, but the people one meets. That pivotal moment when you get help from a stranger who does not even speak the same language as you or when a young child giggles as you show her the photo you just took of her is what really makes a trip special.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have known about CouchSurfing for awhile now, but I was concerned that my 120-sq.-ft (11.1-sq.-m) dorm room didn't lend itself well to hosting. However, aside from meeting people who are kind enough to offer me a couch, I hope to get involved in the CS communities in the places I travel and, when I finally get back home in September 2010, by introducing travelers to my hometown(s). Eventually, once the days of cramped college dorms are over, I'm sure I will pay it forward by introducing weary travelers to my abode.

Interests

-- Traveling (duh)
-- Photography
-- Cities [design, skylines, transportation]
-- Hurricane tracking
-- Collect shotglasses (cliche, I know)
-- Blogging

• design
• photography
• traveling
• socializing
• blogging
• engineering
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

In no particular order...
Film: The Bournes, Slumdog Millionaire, Munich
Music: No one genre in particular, but I want to be able to understand the words (if there are words)
Book: The DaVinci Code (although I generally prefer non-fiction)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Going from Amman to Haifa. I know this doesn't sound impressive, but when it takes nine hours, five buses, four taxis, two mini-buses, a hitchhike, and a walk by the Bahá'í Gardens at midnight, it becomes amazing.

Countries I’ve Visited

Egypt, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, Israel, United Kingdom, United States

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