CURRENT MISSION

To find a couch/people to hang out with in Paris from Sept. 24th-27th

ABOUT ME

Hello world! It's great to be joining the couchsurfing community. Although one of my dearest friends (Tina) recommended I join over a year ago (based on her amazing experiences in Eastern Europe), I've only just gotten started with my first trip to France with another dear friend (Nadia). So, although I don't have the necessary verifications/vouches yet, I can tell you that I'm a responsible, respectful person who is looking forward to making friends across the globe. Ready to host me (and Nadia)?

Here's a bit of history:
I was born and brought up in New Delhi, INDIA then moved to Los Angeles, California with my family when I was ten years old. Since then, I've traveled to India a LOT (lived and worked there), and went to university close to San Francisco. Now, I'm living in Dhaka, Bangladesh where I'm based on a field research project related to development efficacy. This involves a lot of travel to Barisal, the poorest division in Bangladesh that is filled with glimpses of rural life and material poverty. It has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I'm looking forward to discussing it with people who are interested in learning about what it means to engage with "development."

And a bit of aspirations:
Nadia and I are traveling through France as I help her get set up in Bordeaux (all in a matter of a week!). As crazy as that seems, I'm still hoping to get a flavor of France and hopefully the range of the people who call it home. It's difficult to take a chance and trust the goodness of people and my first foray into the couchsurfing world could well turn out to be full of silence. BUT, I'm willing to go halfway (and probably more) and make an effort to interact with complete strangers in the hope that at least an interesting conversation, if not a lifelong friendship, blossoms. Isn't that the goal of the couchsurfing community? So, I'm hoping that at least some of you will be willing to extend that first hand-everyone must start somewhere, right? It would be wonderful to hear from you! =)

PHILOSOPHY

Carpe Diem

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

By taking the first leap of faith and looking to meet and stay with interesting people across France. I'm also looking forward to getting back to Bangladesh and hosting a range of travelers in a flat I share with two amazing people (have to check with them first though, hehe)! =)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Excited to embark on my first couch-surfing experience in France! =)

Interests

travel (hence my presence here), art history, water, yoga, cooking, dances from around the globe, learning, reading, chatting away with strangers

• arts
• dancing
• cooking
• yoga
• reading
• traveling
• surfing
• water polo
• art history
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite Book: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Music: Pretty eclectic, enjoy a broad range of sounds
Favorite Movie: Babel

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The Tibetan Plateau...simply spectacular
Haystacks in rural Bangladesh
Sea Plane and Speedboat rides around Bhola and Patuakhali (Southern Bangladesh)
Riding around on scooters around backroads in Goa
...too many memories to list!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd like to learn
- French!
- more about art history and the stories behind the places I visit
- how to ride a motorcycle (especially useful for reaching washed out villages where we work)

I can teach:
- about "development" after having attempted to study it from different angles during my university years and a few research/field experiences I've had in India and Bangladesh, and of course, having grown up in a "developing" country
- classical indian dance (odissi), which has been passed on through generations from the 13th century
- how to play water polo!

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Mexico, Singapore, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bangladesh, India, United States