I am a marine biologist turned ecologist who has been working for four years in remote parts of a tropical island called the Andaman Islands in India. I have recently come to the decision to forfeit my reclusive job and start a PhD, explore the world, meet people, and amass new experiences. I like talking to people and immersing myself in cultures alien to me. I often end up pondering with others the functional reasons behind why particular cultures or customs evolved. While not working, I like to read books, listen to music, and sing with a ukulele.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Booking a hotel and staying there alone is just sad. Hotels everywhere tend to be similar, having the same lighting and decor - if I wanted to stay in one, I would stay in one closer to home, paying a fraction of the price. I believe that to fully understand the culture of a place, one must live, eat, drink, and laugh with the people of that place. Otherwise, a lot of the subtle but crucial details of their lives will be lost. This is why I think that couch surfing is a great platform - to meet new people and to have as good an understanding of their culture as possible given the limited time we have to travel. I also like the idea of reciprocity that underlies couch surfing - a bunch of people helping strangers from far-off lands understand and experience each other's culture.

Interests

• wildlife
• books
• singing
• ecology

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have walked the entire circumference of many islands in the Lakshadweep archipelago. For the uninformed, Lakshadweep is an archipelago that looks very similar to the Maldives but with next to no tourists. It was an amazing experience overall, especially when the sea lit up blue with bioluminescence.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you about the wonderful world underwater adorned by seagrasses and coral reefs and I can brew a really nice Indian milk tea. I can also cook you some delicious Indian curry.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have nothing much to share except for a lovely time - chit-chatting, laughing, and singing.

Countries I’ve Visited

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, United States