13 years ago, I started my adventures by travelling to Australia from Iran to do my PhD at Sydney University. I moved to Melbourne afterwards and settled there.

Fast forward 5 years and here I am many kilometres away from the upside-down exploring eastern and southern Europe and northern Africa.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I first heard of Couchsurfing when I was living in Iran. A friend of mine started hosting and found the experience socially and culturally liberating considering the situation in Iran.

Remembering that, I always tried to host but never managed to do it due to my my personal situation.

I have lived as an expat in a country with unbelievably different social and cultural settings from mine and know the joys and challenges of this lifestyle and love to share what I learnt in the last 10 years.Besides, I am the traveller now and would love to dig deeper into your cultural roots instead of scratching the surface and passing by.

Interests

After getting a degree in Geology/geophysics, I studied Horticulture (not finished due to covid) for a year and I had my own vegetable garden for many years. I also worked as a foster carer for cats and kittens. I have a tuxedo cat called Mr Bilbo Baggins. He is the true love of my life! 😂. I love riding my bike down the beach paths and inner cities and discovering hidden art galleries and secret gardens. I am a good photographer and love painting murals and doing macrame (see the photos).

I am fit, and healthy and love being outdoors and working with people, animals, plants and tools as well as spending a rainy day in sipping hot chocolate and watching old 70s movies.

• music festivals
• gardening
• boating
• politics
• board games
• hiking
• philosophy
• psychology
• language exchange
• permaculture
• social justice
• sci fi
• star trek
• macrame
• d&d
• horticulture
• bicycle riding
• mural painting
• animal walfare

Music, Movies, and Books

Music- I will give you a road map with some milestones: start from Black sabbath and Led Zeppelin, turn to Lou Reed and Nick Drake and climb up to Pink floyd. Stop in this vintage point appreciating the colourful acidic landscape then start descending to the hills of 80s. Rush through it having a quick look at The Smiths and Sonic Youth then find your way to grey outskirts of crazy urban life of 90s with its king, Nirvana. Take your time to ramble around in gloomy allies with PJ Harvey and Portishead, let your anger dance around with Smashing Pumpkins and plunge deep in to darkness with NIN. Raising from the shadows, let Anathema penetrates your soul and Porcupine Tree soothes your pain. Enjoy Opeth and Katatonia and discover a brand new Brand New while floating in divinity with Mogwai and Clint Mansell.
By the way, did I mention TOOL?

Films- Anything from Tarkovsky the great, Ingmar Bergman, Kieslowsky, Kim ki duk, Ken Loach, Jim Jarmush, Kusturica, Polanski, Lynch....

Books- Whatever combination of philosophy and politics from Plato to Marx and beyond. Science fiction is my to go audio book genre.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Solo hiking in New Zealand for 2 weeks. It was a challenge to test my limits and self reliance and doing it made me proud of who I am and who I have become.

Teach, Learn, Share

With English as my third language, I deeply feel the difficulties of learning a new language. I love to share my knowledge of English language and help you master your English while learning your beautiful language if you would like to teach me yours.

I don't call myself an artist but I have tried the art of weaving and I am fairly good at it and more than happy to share what I know. I am a confident photographer and a newbie guitar player and I have done a little bit of drawing and mural painting. I am happy to share my skills and would be more than grateful if you teach me what you know.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My skills, my enthusiasm, passion and respect for all humans and animals and my willingness to learn.

Besides, I can give you a hand with your household chores, cook you traditional Iranian and Australian food (shrimps on barbie!! LOL) and take care of your pets.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Egypt, Iran