I am a Ph.D. candidate studying in the Netherlands, but originally from Turkey. My work is partly on machine learning.

I am a huge history buff. I usually travel with at least a +1 (be it family or friend).

I've lived in New Jersey, USA for a school term in an exchange program. I'm from Istanbul. I now live in Rotterdam with my wife.

I am, since early childhood, fascinated by the world in general. First time I was abroad, I was extremely overwhelmed and I still get a bit of that excitement every time I get a chance to travel. I try to travel as much as I can while I have the chance. I seek no extreme material comfort, just the pleasure of traveling. Memories are the only thing I can count on being with me until the end of my life (unless Alzheimer's, and it that case, well...).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

All the other alternatives are more isolated/private options to stay in a foreign country, which is honestly better for an introvert like me; however, it gets a little bit too lonely after a while.

I decided to use Couchsurfing more actively, because I'd be able to (and I want to) meet a lot of different people from a lot of different cultures this way, and not just exchange keys/money type of deal to take place. I've once crashed in a friend's friend's friend's house in a very foreign country for me, and it was honestly an incredible experience, so I want to have a bit more of that.

Interests

I try to watch as many movies as I can, try to read as many books as I can, try to learn as many things as I can, and try to see as much as I can. I can talk pretty much any Hollywood movie or popular US/UK/Turkish TV series with anyone, I can go on about Harry Potter for hours, and I have a very strong knowledge of the Western & Turkish pop culture (websites, memes, internet slang, celebrities, etc.)

And although I'm an engineer, I am in love with history - I even minored in history. I especially try to focus on the Roman, Spanish, and Middle Eastern history, along with Judaism/Christianity/Islam. But of course, I'd love to explore other cultures and their historical backgrounds.

• culture
• books
• technology
• movies
• tv
• traveling
• christian
• muslim
• engineering
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

I love almost all kinds of music. I enjoy listening to a really broad range of artists. It ranges from a bunch of movie soundtracks to TV series soundtracks; from AC/DC to Michael Jackson; from Frank Sinatra to Michael Buble; from Shakira to Rihanna; from Pink Martini to A. R. Rahman; from Zaz to Buena Vista Social Club, etc.

For movies, I like a ton of movies. But for the sake of keeping a short list I can say that Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings series, the Usual Suspects, Se7en, the Lion King (for nostalgic reasons), Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Little Miss Sunshine, Munich, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Good Bye Lenin!, The Downfall, Vitus, Singin' in the Rain, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Shaun of the Dead, Persepolis, Wall-E, Full Metal Jacket, District 9, 12 Angry Men, etc. are among the favorites. (And tht's a "short" list.)

For TV series, I've recently watched and liked A Young Doctor's Notebook, I also like Breaking Bad, Scrubs (NOT Scrubs: Med School), Doctor Who, Friends, Firefly, 30 Rock, Person of Interest, Black Mirror, The Office, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, Veronica Mars, Seinfeld, Sherlock, Arrested Development, Dexter (NOT the last season), Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine Nine, The Good Place, and Leyla ile Mecnun [a popular Turkish series (Ranked 9th in IMDb at one point) that ended a while ago].

My favorite book series is of course Harry Potter books, almost all of Amin Maalouf's books, and some of Stephen King's books. I also like (no, sorry - LOVE!) Calvin and Hobbes.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've seen the Stonehenge! What can be more amazing than that?
I've been to King's Cross Platform 9 3/4. (I actually walked to the platforms 9 and 10, then realized there is a prop outside.)
I've climbed a medium-rise mountain (a hill, honestly) in Norway.
I've seen Ban Ki-Moon and the inside of the UN Headquarters.

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn/improve my Spanish, and maybe the Morse Alphabet. I also, obviously, want to learn about the local history, culture and lifestyle of the countries I go to.

I may be able to teach English (I really have professional proficiency English - I score very high in Certified English Language Tests) or Turkish, of course. Plus, I'm not that bad with technology, so maybe -just maybe- be of some assistance to your technology-related problems. Also, I make the best itineraries, so I can plan you a great Turkey/Istanbul trip with extra insider tips.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, Turkey, United States