I'm a native New Yorker, but I've spent most of my adult life living outside of the United States. I am currently based in Berlin, but Istanbul has my heart. I play violin (sometimes with lots of effects!) and spend a lot of my time writing for a living. When it comes to going out, I'm generally more of a pubber than a clubber, but I've pulled off the occasional three-day Berlin party weekend. Otherwise, I love hiking, eating, and any quirky local sites.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love the CSers I've met in DC and around the world. I'm not just looking for places to stay, but also for new friends and real connections. I haven't always taken advantage of the CS community in my past travels, but I'm hoping to be more engaged going forward.

Unfortunately I can't accept guests at the moment, but I'm open to meeting for coffee or other hangs if you're in Berlin!

Interests

I spend a lot of my time cooking (especially Turkish food) and playing music, either in my band or in jam sessions—impromptu or otherwise.

• cooking
• wine
• violin
• opera
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Wes Anderson films; Kung Fu Hustle; Down By Law
Music: A Tribe Called Quest; Altin Gün; Kishi Bashi; BRMC; The Beatles; The Kinks; The Shins; The Pharcyde; Fela Kuti; The WITCH; The Black Keys; Erkin Koray; Selda; old dancehall; Ethiopian jazz; occasional techno
Books/Authors: Wladimir Kaminer; Milan Kundera; "The Master and Margarita"; Gabriel Garcia Marquez

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbed up the last 3 km to the summit of Mt. Nemrut in the snow (it was March and our car couldn't go any farther). It was a very cold and exhausting walk up there, but a fantastic view.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Turkish meals, Anatolian psychedelic rock, laughs, harmonies.

Sometimes violin accompaniment if I'm travelling with my instrument!

Countries I’ve Visited

Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, England, Germany, Turkey, United States

•