Hey there! My name is Vanita, and I'm a recent university grad from the US. I studied psychology and neuroscience, as well as some French, at UC Berkeley in the US. During this time I also did a semester abroad at Trinity College, Dublin and am currently living and working in London!

My parents are from India, and I grew up speaking both English and Hindi. In addition, I studied Spanish in primary school and Mandarin Chinese in grades 6-8. Since I was 14, I have been studying French continuously and have been studying and practicing Spanish at home and on my travels. Needless to say, I love languages and learning about other cultures. I love striking up genuine conversation with people from other countries and sharing our experiences with one another.

So far I have traveled through much of Ireland and experienced the warmth of its people and the raw beauty of its landscape. In addition, I have visited Prague, Berlin, and Amsterdam, all of which I loved for different reasons. I also backpacked through England, France, Spain, and Portugal with a friend. Before arriving in Europe, I went to Brazil (one of my favorite places in the world, where I picked up some rudimentary Portuguese), and I visited India many times.

I would love to learn more about you!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I originally signed up for Couchsurfing while I was backpacking with my friend last year. However, I am now living in London until early August.

I am currently making plans to visit Edinburgh from July 29-30 (just one night!) with a fellow female UC Berkeley student. She is 21 and originally from Seoul but has lived in the US for a long time. We are both very respectful, open-minded, and easy-going people who are always interested in learning and sharing with others.

I am a fun, energetic, and open person who wants to see and learn about the world, and would like to share that with others! I am very respectful of others' space and time, and I can be around as little or as much as you prefer. I am pretty independent and, on a typical travel day, I will be out most of the day and sometimes night.

Interests

I'm an avid reader, and I love to write as well (poetry, non-fiction, and fiction alike), with a few published poems to my name (though not for a while, I'm afraid!).

I love being outdoors, taking in the wonderful sights of nature and being active and healthy. Yoga is a favorite of mine, and I also deeply enjoy martial arts; I'm currently in training for my black belt in Taekwondo. The beach is one of my favorite places, and I love the water (my family used to call me a little fish).

• arts
• culture
• literature
• poetry
• fashion
• beauty
• dining
• wine
• yoga
• politics
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• martial arts
• languages
• psychology
• religion
• volunteering
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I love a variety of music, particularly: hip-hop, rap, r&b, dancehall, soul, and some EDM and indie.

In terms of movies, I enjoy action movies , superhero / comic book movies, and comedy. In addition, I love foreign and period films / tv shows and books, as well as novels that focus on experiences outside the so-called "classic" cannon of Western literature. In other words, I love reading quality work by women and non-white authors, particularly works that grapple with identity / coming of age, war, and post-colonialism. One of my favorite novels is The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I was 14 years old, I lived in a remote Indian village for a month with a volunteer organization. I was the only volunteer from outside the community, and I lived directly in the village with the people we were serving, day in and day out. It was the most beautiful and utterly transforming experiences I've ever had. This was an organization that did not cater to American / Canadian / European "volunteers" by providing them with a glorified tourist experience. Rather, it was a true community-based organization that focused on training and employing those living in the villages served, transforming the area with love, intelligence, and dedication. I will never forget this month, which was filled with some of the most human experiences I've ever had.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share my passion for food, for nature...for languages and cultures. I have a deep passion for life that I would love to share, and I would love to learn from others as well. There is never enough conversation, learning, laughter, or wine to be had in this world!

Truly, we can discuss anything you like - politics, religion, fashion, culture and cultural norms, slang, humanitarianism, you name it. I love good company and conversation, and will happily share my experiences with you and learn from yours.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States