I'm a 23 year-old fresh graduate coming from France. I have been studying at Sciences Po in Paris and had the opportunity of travelling a lot. I've been spending two years abroad, studying for one year in the US at the University of California Santa Barbara as well as one year in Britain at the London School of Economics. I have majored in urban policy, also studying social sciences, history human geography. I am really interested in photography and Middle-eastern culture and issues.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Last year, three friends and I went to visit wonderful places in the United States, Canada, and Mexico while we were abroad (the best experiences we had were a long journey from SoCal to New Mexico, stopping by the Yosemite, Zion National Parks and villages in New Mexico). We realized many of these travels thanks to couchsurfers who generously accepted to host us, sometimes following last minute emergency requests. Now that I'm back to France, I have just realized how travel is — way more than just a "mere enjoyment" — part of life experience and how generous unexpected hosts can be. Thank you all!

Interests

Academically speaking, I'm interested in social sciences and humanities.
I'm also really interested in theatre, cinema (especially Middle-Eastern and European cinema), foreign and alternative music. My favorite genres include Brazilian Bossa Nova, British New Wave and traditional Persian, Armenian and Arab songs.

• humanities
• dining
• movies
• board games
• music
• alternative music
• geography
• history
• languages
• social science
• au-pair
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

Films :
- Frances Ha
- Persepolis, Chicken with plums, The Voices and all the Satrapi's
- Moonrise Kingdom
- Babel
- The New World (Terrence Malick)
- The trial of Vivianne Amsalem
- Caramel, Et maintenant on va où ? and all the Nadine Labaki's
- Live and become, He
- The Angel's Share, I Daniel Blake and all the Ken Loach's
- Tamara Drewe
- Carnage, Venus in Fur and all the Polanski's
- Kaddosh, Alila and all the Amos Gitai's
- The Kindergarten Teacher
- Many more...

Music :
- Ben Harper
- Joan Baez
- Mercedes Sosa
- Sharon Jones
- Liz McComb
- Idir
- Cesaria Evora
- Amalia Rodriguez
- Fela and Femi Kuti
- Ethiopian Tezetas
- All the Mediterranean religious anthems (corsican, syro-lebanese, etc.)
- Bashung and Mons' duos
- The Cure
- Souad Massi
- Gregori Czerzinski
- Mac Demarco
- Françoise Hardy
- Juliette Gréco

Literature:
- I spend almost all of my time reading the press (especially The Guardian and Le Monde Diplomatique) rather than novels, and that is a shame...
- Russian literature, especially Tolstoy's, Dostovesky's and Troyat's
- Éliette Abécassis
- I also enjoy comics such as Joann Sfar's or Lewis Trondheim's

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Staying au-pair in a city in Inner China for 4 weeks. Wonderful although unsettling experience.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teaching :
Unfortunately, I cannot teach French cuisine because I'm so bad at it and a complete disaster may result, such as fire in your kitchen (keep a hose at small distance). I'm really into European board games so I can teach you some tricks . As I study history, I also have good notions of European and Mediterranean history.

Learning :
As I'm really into music and films, I like to know more about people's interests and favorite works in these fields. Also, recently, I've been nurturing an interest in learning manual activities, for instance, pottery.

Sharing :
Conversations about movies, theatre, any kind of arts, music, food...

What I Can Share with Hosts

Also, I like to spend time with my hosts if they can make me visit their city or place, especially its history and heritage. Generally, hosts are people who know the most interesting things about where they live so I am really looking for hosts who take time to show their city. I like to share quality time, especially eating times or to go out with my hosts if they are willing to. I would also really like to share time cooking, although, then again — and I'm ashamed to admit — I'm so bad at it ! This is something I really want to improve. Please feel free to teach me!

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Lebanon, United Kingdom, United States