I am an American woman who is traveling after graduating from University of Michigan. I received a BA in English and I plan to pursue graduate school so I can work in policy work relating to education. My parents are originally from India and immigrated to the U.S. so this has inspired me to travel and learn more about the world outside the United States. I'll be traveling through Asia and South America on an 8-month fellowship, and hoping to couch surf and meet new people!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Looking to learn more about other cultures and communities and excited to travel and meet new people and I think I can do that most by meeting local residents through Couchsurfing. I heard about this website when I received my fellowship and was encouraged to try it to have authentic friendships and encounters with other people who are interested in the same thing. So far, I've made some great friends and had lovely travel experiences! I hope to give back to the CS community by hosting people in the U.S. when I return after my fellowship is complete.

Interests

Reading, writing, singing, cooking/baking, learning about history and culture.

• culture
• writing
• books
• singing
• education
• dining
• cooking
• baking
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• teaching
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

I pretty much love all types of music, but I generally listen to pop and R&B, as well as classical once in a while.

Some of my favorite movies are Dead Poets Society, La Vita e Bella, and The Lion King.

It's really hard for me to pick a favorite book of all time, since I majored in English and read a lot, but my favorite classic American book is either The Great Gatsby or To Kill a Mockingbird. Some more recent readings that I like are as follows: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay, Salt by Nayyirah Waheed, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and I Write What I Like by Steve Biko.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I think the fellowship that I'm on will be the most extraordinary thing I've done. I received this scholarship through my University, so I'll be traveling through Asia and South America for 8 months on my own. Although I've traveled before, nothing compares to this. I'm excited for all the new people I'll meet and all the new things I'll learn! If you want, you can follow along my blog at www.kaurharleen.com.

Teach, Learn, Share

I enjoy talking about my own experiences that pertain to my upbringing and social identities and how they are the same or different from those around me. As I've said before, I really love hearing people's stories and their outlook on life and situations, as I think it is the only way we can broaden our own horizons.

I also really love baking, and would love to learn about your local food and what you like to bake so we can do so together! I also love reading and talking about books, and just any experience that I can share with others is a good one.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'd be happy to just sit and chat with you about your experiences growing up where you did and learning about your community. I love to talk and learn, but I'm also willing to share anything about my own culture and experiences. I love making new friends and bonding with them by talking! I also hope to treat you in some way to thank you for hosting me during my travels.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, England, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States