ABOUT ME

A Flaneur wandering through wastelands of highways in America and tourist crowds around the world...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is the best way to understand a place through local eyes. And because I have a genuine interest in learning about people, culture, and places...

Interests

Many things and I'm afraid if I list them here, I might limit myself. Keeping that in mind, I will list some and encourage you to introduce me to your interests no matter how different.

Business and Brands (from a marketing point of view and how local culture affects that brand) such as fast-food franchises, fashion retailers, cars bought by the masses, and my latest weird intrigue is sneaker brands.

Supermarket Brands in different countries and what they sell. It's very reflective of people there, when you see what supermarkets decide to sell and how they market it for their customers.

History and Genealogy: I'm interested in the retelling of the same story such as WW2 from different people, because it is a good reflection of them and their political convictions. Also, interested in people's lineage, where they come from, and how they ended up here. I do usually people-watch on streets to notice people's common features and recognize ethnically how people ended up here.

Spotting Doppelgangers: mostly for celebrities or people I've known or met, like hey you look like *proceeds to google/facebook name to show face*....

Movies: (I will list my favorites in the section below) I took one class about film analysis, so I'm an amateur at analyzing cinematography, dialogue, and story. But I love hearing what are people's favorite movies of all time, because it is a very good reflection of who they are as a person, independent of where they come from and their culture.

Harry Potter: (oh yes!) I can go deep here. Want a Trivia challenge? You're on!

Comedians: I'd love to hear about your favorite comedians (if you have any), or a sitcom that is cited or referenced a lot wherever you're from.

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite movies are (in no particular order): The Dark Knight (2008), The Last Samurai (2008), The Town (2010), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Annie Hall (1975), 500 Days of Summer (2008), The Beach (2000), Fight Club (1999), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Inside Out (2015), Very Big Shot (Lebanese film from 2016, available on netflix), West Beyrouth (Lebanese film from 1996), Omar (Palestinian film from 2014), Finding Neverland (2014), The Book of Eli (2010), Beowulf (2007), Shutter Island (2008), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2015), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1988), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2008), The Trip to Italy (2014), Prisoners (2013), Blade (1998), Blade 2 (2001), Zodiac (2007), All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2007)

Note all years of movies are from memory, and could very well be inaccurate (but they're close enough)

My favorite music:

Gwen Stefani (I dont like some of her collaborations though), John Mayer, Cat Power, Mac Demarco, Anderson Paak, Banks, Gorillaz

French House (which is House music inspired by Disco) such as Daft Punk, Darius, Jean Tonique, Kartell, Justice, FKJ, L'imperatrice, Petit Biscuit...
Other DJ's /producers I like: Disclosure, Drama, Pomo, Zhu, DJ Snake, Nicholas Jaar, Maceo Plex, Satin Jackets, Moon Boots, Honne, Hayden James, AlunaGeorge, Duke Dumont, UMEK, DJ Goya, Capyac, Little Dragon, Tokimonsta, Caribou, Calvin Harris, Klyne, Kaasi, Yuksek...

Electronic/Synth Pop and funk(?) like Tame Impala, MGMT, Cherub, We Are Evergreen (french band)

Old R&B and Soul (Funk and Motown included) like James Brown, Parliament, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, Bobby Womack, Earth Wind & Fire, Isley Brothers, dvsn (even though he is new), The Internet (they are also new)

Female Crooners such as Amy Winehouse, Raveena, Ari Lennox, Joss Stone

Producers/musicians like Frank Ocean, Pharrell, Kanye

Hip hop like Childish Gambino, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, The Weeknd, (Some) Drake

Rock Bands like Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pixies, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, Black Keys, (Early) Maroon 5, and (Early) Coldplay (even though these are varied and different they represent what I like in Rock music)

And many more individual songs from a wide spectrum of styles, that don't belong to any memorable artist of genre

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Hungary, Montenegro, New Zealand, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States