I am a Ph.D. candidate and lecturer residing in Durham, NC. Before returning to the US for graduate school, I used to travel a lot. Now, I research and teach African-American literature and culture at Duke University. I grew up in Rīga, Latvia, where I lived until I turned sixteen. I then moved away to a boarding school in Hong Kong and since have resided, first, in the US, then in Accra, Ghana, and now back in the US.

For verification, here's my university page: https://literature.duke.edu/people/anastasia-karklina

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I enjoy my teaching and research tremendously, but I've been in Durham, NC full-time for almost 8 years, so I am actively trying to get back into traveling in 2019. I've traveled to major US cities but I'm now trying to explore other corners. Working on an academic calendar is a privilege insofar as my schedule is flexible and allows me to travel and work remotely.

Since September, I have visited Asheville, Orlando, Miami, New Orleans, San Francisco, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. In March, I am headed to Charleston, SC, and, then, we plan to go on an extended spring break to Seattle, Las Vegas, and, finally, Denver. Later in April, an academic conference will take me to London and Sussex, UK.

What I miss the most about traveling before or during college though is meeting new people and making friends like I used to. This part of travel is largely missing for me and I am eager to get into CS-ing for that reason!

Interests

• literature
• photography
• yoga
• meditation
• gardening
• traveling
• history
• dance
• activism
• popular culture
• weightlifting

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I turned sixteen, I moved from Latvia to Hong Kong! I am glad that I did because it opened all sorts of opportunities for me.

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach African-American Studies and my focus is on the twentieth-century Black American literature and culture as well as contemporary issues around race. It's something I love sharing and learning about, and I'm always up for a conversation about current issues, social movements, history, and popular culture.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I've traveled independently a lot, so, depending on your schedule and preference, I'm happy to explore the area on my own—or I'm equally glad to keep you company sometime and get to know each other.

If you're considering graduate studies, I am happy to talk to you, share tips based on my experiences, or even look at your materials. This semester I am teaching a writing course, so if you need help editing anything, lmk! I enjoy talking about ideas, so if you're working on any kind of project, I'm all ears!

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ghana, Hong Kong, Latvia, United States