CURRENT MISSION

finishing graduate school (both); learning the guitar (Jim); learning Spanish (Mehraneh)

ABOUT ME

In 2012/13, we migrated stateside for graduate school after several years of living in Istanbul. Mehraneh is currently studying industrial design in Rochester, NY and Jim is studying geography in Chapel Hill, NC...

In July 2015, we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We surf.
We host.
We did so before this website and we would continue to do so without it - though Couchsurfing does give us the opportunity to get in touch with people we would otherwise miss out on. We believe that the more we learn about one another, the better off we will be as a planet. Plus, traveling is so much more rewarding when you are exposed to that local restaurant, that funny story, or some other personal connection that would be missed completely in the hotel...
We encourage our friends to look over the site and think about getting involved too.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Prior to discovering couchsurfing, Jim had many experiences being a guest in friendly houses all over the world. He also always enjoyed hosting others whenever he's had a stable address. Couchsurfing has been a pleasant addition to his life and just another name for what he was already doing anyway.
Mehraneh warmed up quickly to the idea of couchsurfing and has met lots of interesting people through the organization.

Interests

design, music, travel, food...

• design
• dining
• walking
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• geography
• languages
• tours
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Zaz, Sense8, Gregory David Roberts, Balkan music, Cuban music, Elephant Larry, Kurt Vonnegut Jr, Prince, Garrison Keillor, Marjane Satrapi, Michael Palin, Star Wars, Salmon Rushdie, Rushmore, Baraka, M*A*S*H, The Magnetic Fields, Rudyard Kipling, Andrew Mango, Taj Mahal, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Hemmingway, Dominique Lapierre, The Flaming Lips, Aphex Twin, Nil Karaibrahamgil, Tom Robbins, Daft Punk, Buena Vista Social Club, Aesop Rock, Q-Tip, Amy Winehouse, Peep Show, Wild Swans, Willie Nelson, Ween, and so on...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing each, picked at random:

10 days on the Langtang Trek, in Nepal, is an early memory from Jim's life as a globetrotter. Breath-taking doesn't come close to describing the Himalayas and those who manage to go through their lives among the imposing slopes of the mountains are truly amazing people. Wow.

Accepting her Best of Best award at Red Dot, in Singapore, is one amazing experience Mehraneh has had. The week leading up to it, full of beaches, palm trees, sunshine, and fiery curries wasn't too shabby either.

Teach, Learn, Share

Jim would like to learn Farsi.
Mehraneh is trying to learn Spanish and is eager to practice.
We enjoy teaching Turkish to our guests, if they're interested in languages.
We have an electric bass at the apartment (and a uke, and a cheap guitar, and a few other bits and pieces...) and would be happy to sit around and play music with you if you're traveling with an instrument - or an urge to play any of ours. You're also welcome to use our kitchen as much as you'd like.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Music, food, walking tours, conversation...

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Iran, Jordan, Kosovo, Laos, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Iran, Russian Federation, Turkey, United States

•