I love to try new things. The more new to me it is, the more I need to experience it. This is most pronounced when it comes to different cultures and languages. Even if I am still learning a language, I am not shy to speak and make mistakes and learn. I've moved a lot in my life -- all over New Jersey, Beirut, Philadelphia, Richmond, Rochester, and Atlanta. My family is originally from Beirut, Lebanon, and I did my middle school and high school there. I work a lot, and when I'm not working I enjoy being around people to hang out. I am Muslim, I don't side much with anyone in politics, and I have no interest in watching sports.

See my Twitter page!
twitter.com/akrammsalam

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

So I don't pay for a hotel and spend my time alone.

Interests

You definitely develop a more mature view of the world when you see how different people in different societies live. And you get closer to these people by learning their language (or practicing their English with them lol). I am at the end of my second year in my PhD program in pharmacology, and I am interested in global health as a hobby, hence my participation in AMWHO. Aside from this, I am invest some tome in reading about business because I would like to start one some day. In my free time, which doesn't really exist, I workout and visit new places near me, especially if it involves nature.

• culture
• books
• working out
• outdoor activities
• business
• languages
• science
• exploring
• global health

Music, Movies, and Books

More scientific articles than books, lately. Not into music or movies (what omg!)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Two years ago I found a kitten shivering in the cold in a dumpster, spent hours trying to put him in my car, took him home, saw he was sick and injured, nursed him back to health, named him Vova, got a flea infestation in my apartment, annihilated the flea infestation after several weeks, and we lived happily ever after.

Teach, Learn, Share

1) All medicines have side effects.
2) Speak to native speakers of a language -- they are the best tutors.
3) A college degree without hands-on experience drops you to the bottom of the foodchain. So the sooner you know the path you want to take, the better.
4) Don't just react to people's harmful actions; rather, look at the underlying reasons for them and act accordingly.
5) Almost all people are scared to take the lead. So just take the lead yourself.
6) You don't need to go through point B to go from point A to point C.
7) Never change yourself to fit in. This world is huge. The bunch of people who you happen to be around now shouldn't modulate who you are.
8) You become like the people you spend the most time with.
9) There is no such thing as lack of resources, only lack of resourcefulness. Adapt as your situation changes.
10) Never give a beggar money, but buy them food. They are human and deserve food, but you have no idea what they'll do with cash.
11) Compete with yourself, not others.
12) Interacting with people and being patient with their shortcomings is better than choosing not to interact. But sometimes you need time for yourself.
13) Keep in touch with family constantly.
14) News from the media impresses upon you a certain opinion. Millions of others have read what you read. You are all thinking in the same direction now.
15) We all learn from mistakes -- they just don't have to be our own.
16) There are many more bacterial cells living in and on you than there are human cells.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can hang out and talk. I'm pretty friendly.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Italy, Russian Federation

Countries I’ve Lived In

Lebanon, United States