Here I am, facing the daunting task of summing myself up in one paragraph. Let's see how this goes.

I'm currently living in Vancouver, BC, Canada doing a PhD in cancer genomics. You can ask me what that is when we meet, but until then, just imagine cancer research and data science getting married and having a baby. Before moving to the West Coast for graduate school, I was born and raised in Quebec in a suburb of Montreal, hence the French. By virtue of living in Vancouver, I have the incredible luxury of being surrounded by mountains. Since moving here in September 2013, I've come to enjoy hiking, backpacking, camping, skiing, and snowboarding. More generally, I'm in love with nature and in particular, I'm a sucker for animals. In fact, I've become a hobby photographer in large part because I wanted to capture the beauty of nature, whether it be fauna, flora or natural events like sunsets. If you're interested, you can check out some of my photos on Instagram (@scientificbruno). I'm always looking to learn more about photography and find spots worth capturing on camera. Other than that, I love playing board games. Pandemic is a favourite of mine because it's so challenging and fosters collaborative problem-solving, but I also don't shy away from heavier Euro games like Caverna and Great Western Trail. Last but not least, I consider myself the luckiest man alive (try to convince me otherwise) for having such a wonderful girlfriend. We've been together since March 2015. She's a beacon of joy, so much so that I find it hard to imagine a life without her positivity and determination to inspire me.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I will admit that I'm new to Couchsurfing, but I'm eager to give it a try, and here's why. Some of the best experiences I've had while travelling have occurred during those free walking tours that are common in large cities. Specifically, I appreciate the unique perspective I'm able to gain from a local. Even paid tours often fail to rival with the free tours because the guide might be in it for the money, not for sharing their passion. And sure, if I had enough money, I could probably afford a premium trip experience, but I'm merely a student.

I'm on Couchsurfing because I think it democratizes cultural exchange.

I'm hoping that Couchsurfing will allow me to make a connection with a local who cares about my travel experience and is passionate and knowledgeable about where they live. I want to ideally enjoy a more authentic experience exploring the area as opposed to falling for tourist traps. And honestly, there's no denying that cheaper accommodation helps as well. Specifically, if I don't have to pay as much per night, I can then afford longer trips and thus take in more of what the city or area has to offer. For example, a longer trip means that I get to accomplish more of what the host recommended me to try.

Right now, I'm a student living in an apartment that doesn't allow couch-surfing, so I'm unable to host for the time being. However, based on my experience showing my city to friends and family, I know I would love to host travellers. In fact, it would be a perfect way of paying it forward.

Interests

• culture
• photography
• board games
• traveling
• computer science
• science
• nature
• museums
• programming
• new experiences
• data science

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to podcasts more than I listen to music. My favourite podcasts are "Philosophize This", "IQ2US Debates", and "The Glass Cannon Podcast". When I run out of podcast episodes, I tend to listen to pop and electronic dance music, but I enjoy other genres too! I can also listen to Disney music on repeat for an embarrassingly long time.

Some of my favourite movies include anything from Studio Ghibli (breathtaking movies), most Marvel movies (for the action, not the plot), "Black Panther" (great music and story) and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (a refreshing take on animation) specifically, Disney movies (mostly for the nostalgia and the music), and while not technically movies, literally anything that Sir David Attenborough narrates (because I'm a huge animal lover).

As for books, I especially enjoyed thriller novels written by Michael Crichton (RIP) and Dan Brown. I believe "Prey" and "Angels and Demons" were the first books that I couldn't put down. I have also read the entire Harry Potter series, like most of the world. More recently, I started listening to audiobooks for their convenience during my commute. My brain isn't a fan of me reading on moving vehicles. I listened to the entire trilogy of Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien as well as a number of novels by R. A. Salvatore.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In August 2017, I drove for over 15 hours just to witness something that lasted less than two minutes: a total solar eclipse. Spoiler alert: it was totally (pun intended) worth it!

Teach, Learn, Share

At the risk of sounding like a weirdo, I love talking about cancer, specifically the science behind it. It always surprises me how little people know about such a ubiquitous disease. Virtually everyone has been affected by cancer in one way or another. In the very least, everyone knows someone who has been diagnosed with it. Despite this, a lot of misinformation circulates about what causes cancer and why it's so hard to cure.

I'm also a hobbyist photographer, so if you want a crash course on how to use the more advanced features on your camera, let me know! Be warned though: once I get going about photography, it's hard for me to stop. Pro tip: set a timer so I know when to stop. :-P

What I Can Share with Hosts

As a Canadian, I can perpetuate the stereotypes by sharing a can of authentic maple syrup mounted on a hockey puck with a card attached saying "Sorry" and "Thank you!" I'm being serious about at least the maple syrup.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Japan, Netherlands, Rwanda, Taiwan, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada