My Elevator pitch about myself would be “Chandler Bing’s sense of humour, Lyra Belacqua’s axiological ethics and socio-political worldview, and Brian Kinnney’s sexuality and interpersonal relationships”
If you got all three references, “Hi there, fellow bookish queer child of the 90’s!!”
If not, thats just gives us a readymade icebreaker. You don’t need to get all, or any, of those references for us to get along well, but you do need to be the kind of person who is too curious to not inquire further.

I cycle between introverted and extroverted, loud and quiet depending on my mood, but a fairly reliable way to get me out of my shell and talking your ear off is to start talking philosophy or playing a game with me.

I’m currently a math teacher and will be starting a doctorate in English Literature/Queer theory in Fall 2025.

I grew up in Delhi for the first 17 years of my life, and have lived in NYC for the rest of it, though my linguistic and aesthetic tastes are still fairly British (thanks colonialism)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Me and the hubby used to host on AirBnB and MisterB&B, but we stopped last year when NYC changed its hosting laws. We’ve realized we honestly don’t miss the income, but we do miss the socialization a lot. We made some great friends from all over and got to vicariously enjoy travel around the globe with everyone’s stories.

Interests

• comics
• video games
• board games
• queer
• gayfriendly
• d&d
• gay friendly
• queer theory
• academia
• lgbtq+
• critical theory

Music, Movies, and Books

I’m very easy to please and will find something worth talking about in any piece of art, even Tucker Carlson’s insane, but unfortunately effective, propaganda films about testicular tanning. (Look it up, its the epitome of republican unintentional self-parody)

That is to say the music and movies on my mind are mostly the ones that are ubiquitous. But ones that circulate in my attention the most, musically, would be Queen and the greatest hits of the 80’s. Movies, books and games I’m thinking of are probably whichever ones I’ve experienced or written about most recently.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Getting the Catholic Church to sponsor a booze-filled week in Slovenia with a healthy dosage of gay sex!!

Also, putting in the work to turn a marriage that started in a bleak, drugged up place into a loving, healthy and sober partnership. But mostly that first thing ;)

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: Well, depends on the day. I’ve read enough to know how little I know, so I make both a terrible and a great teacher. I guess I could teach you how to make self-effacing humble brags???

Learn: Anything!! Literally anything!

Share: See above! I’m a ‘do anything once, and if you don’t like it then do it again with someone else cause good company makes everything enjoyable’ kinda person. But if I’m picking, probably games - board or video.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Energy!!! Its the best thing I get from travellers and what I have the most abundance of when I’m travelling.

Also conversation, obviously. Book recommendations. Researching and editing tips? Is that something anyone is looking for??

I’m not much of a cook or anything, but I’d love to take you out for a drink and dinner.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, United States