CURRENT MISSION

To physically see and experience what I already know -- that we are all essentially the same candies, but in different wrappers.

ABOUT ME

After living abroad for more than 7 years (see below), I have finally returned to the USA (for now!). I currently work for a local community college overseeing a program that builds bridges between students and the community. I strive to foster a culture of service and engagement on my campus, and across the community at large.

I currently don't live in a good place for hosting. But hopefully I can change that soon!

I moved to India to make a change in Indian education and to reduce or even eliminate the education gap in this country. I also worked on providing solar lanterns to rural poor in India and on starting up a vocational training program for both urban and rural poor. I then took a sabbatical to finish a novel (which I hope to get published!). Most recently, I worked for a non-profit to help find NGO-based internships in Mumbai for international students.

I'm super laid back, enjoy meeting new people, and love to learn about all things international (or even intra-national...this country is a pretty diverse place, too). I have lots to share and chat about. Before I make this sound too much like a personals ad...just connect with me to find out more.

visited 34 states (68%)Create your own visited map of The United States or Free ipad travel guide

visited 18 states (51.4%)Create your own visited map of India or Like this? try: Google Ransom Note

PHILOSOPHY

Hmmm...is it bad if I don't have one?

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I like to think that I participate in most of the common ways. I hosted people at my place in Mumbai. I have crashed on people's couches (or floors or extra beds).

I also like to attend meets to get to know travelers and CSers in my community. And sometimes I give advice to travelers even though I may not meet them.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Viewing the Birmingham (Alabama, not UK) "African Village," and seeing the "vegetarian-friendly" side of the city. Hiking up a steep and snowy trail to find hidden hot springs. Hanging out in the very Chinese part of Kuching and experiencing the local perspective. Shooting off fireworks on the Konkan Coast for New Years. Exploring the agricultural fields of Bhubaneswar. Getting literary during five days in Jaipur. Playing with rats in Boise. Seeing the surfing off the California coast. Chilling near the Great Barrier Reef. Showing people around my city of Mumbai. And of course, meeting amazingly wonderful people along the way and making some friendships that will last forever. And these are just some of my adventures!

Interests

Exploring...a lot. This is why CouchSurfing and I will fit in well together! Walking, hiking, camping, writing, teaching, conversing, cooking, helping people, and oh so much more.

• writing
• books
• dancing
• education
• dining
• cooking
• vegetarian
• walking
• traveling
• hiking
• camping
• hunting
• surfing
• teaching
• tourism
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I have a very eclectic mix, ranging from rap and hip-hop to rock and country. I enjoy artists from all over the world. Some of my favorites, to give you an idea of the mix:
- Muse
- Keith Urban
- india.arie
- The Postal Service
- Guster
- Linkin Park
- Alanis Morissette
- Incubus
- Frou Frou
- The Idan Raichel Project
- Placebo
- Emeli Sande
- Railroad Earth
- Silversun Pickups
- Kenna
- And so much more......

Books:
I read a lot of books, ranging from fiction to non-fiction. It's hard to say what book will interest me. Here are a few books/authors that I currently like:
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude"
- Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel"
- Giles Milton's "Nathaniel's Nutmeg"
- Bill Schut's "Dark Banquet"
- Brian Jacques's "Redwall" Series
- Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" and "American Gods"
- Amy Tan's "One Hundred Secret Senses"
- Gerald Durrell's "Rosy Is My Relative"
- John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath"
- James Clavell's "Shogun"
- Y The Last Man
- Arno Karlen's "Plague's Progress"
- Jeffrey Eugenides "Middlesex"
- Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged"
- Rick Riordan "Percy Jackson" Series
- Katherine Boo "Behind the Beautiful Forevers"
- Colleen McCullough's "Masters of Rome" Series
- Herge's "Tintin"
- And again...so much more

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I lived in Ecuador, I was able to explore both the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon Rainforest while still becoming a part of the daily life there. I remember trying some very...unique...food while in the rainforest. I would totally eat it again! Also, my friends and I got trapped in the Galapagos Islands when a strike did not allow us to leave. Oh no! Trapped on a tropical island!!

In India, I have seen and experienced so much: from violent games of kabaddi in a Tamil village on Pongal to the crowded beaches of Puri, from the intricately carved temples of the Hoysalas to the stunning peak of Nandadevi while crunching my feet in snow, from traditional South Indian dancing with a magnificent backdrop in Mahabalipuram to the bright lights of the Bundi Palace at night, from the overwhelming industrial ship complexes at Alang to the drenching rain and stunning greenery of Cherapunjee, from the lives of everyday people in Ahmedabad slums to the many children I have met while traversing the country in trains and buses.

And one of my favorite but simple experiences was when I spent a day in a small adivasi hamlet between Mumbai and Pune, helping an older man and woman rebuild their front yard. This was hard, bloody work that involved smashing stones with a small bat, mixing some water into it, and then smoothing it out to create a flat surface. I was humbled by the sheer difficulty of the task and by the amazing people who had mastered this skill so long back.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ecuador, India, United States

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