Manisha Maurya's Photo

Verified Profile

  • Payment verified
  • Phone verified
  • Government ID verified
  • Address Verified

Not Accepting Guests

  • Last login about 2 months ago

Join Couchsurfing to see Manisha’s full profile.

Overview

  • 48 references 24 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English; learning Hindi, Spanish
  • 40, Female
  • Member since 2007
  • Ph.D. student in Educational Policy and Analyst
  • No education listed
  • No hometown listed
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

To make the world smaller.

ABOUT ME

I might be biased, but I believe I have the cutest 2-year-old daughter. I am obsessed with her and she is my world. I hope I can get her to love traveling and meeting different types of people. I also have a husband who I have known since 2005. He accepts and supports my wanderlust nature. I have been a Couchsurfing member since 2007, and I've met some of the most interesting and kindest people that I otherwise would not have met simply by staying at a hotel. I hope to meet more amazing people through either hosting or surfing on other people's couches!

PHILOSOPHY

I don't know, I don't live my life by any one particular philosophy. I feel that I still have so much to learn about life before forming a personal philosophy.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Join gatherings, host people...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've had quite a few experiences, and they were all positive.

Interests

Discovering new places, meeting great people, eating unfamiliar dishes (as long as they don't have beef and/or pork), long-distance driving, and learning new things about my daughter.

  • dining
  • chocolate
  • reading
  • traveling
  • surfing
  • teaching
  • languages
  • volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I watch various types of movies, so picking a favorite is hard. I do tend to go for non-Hollywood films and mostly prefer documentaries or other types of movies. I currently read books on educational policies in the USA or books concerning gender and race. When I was in high school, I enjoyed reading The Awakening and Handmaid's Tale. I love all kinds of music except American Country music.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Ajanta Ellora caves in India are absolutely amazing! If you can go to India, please visit those caves!

Teach, Learn, Share

My first Couchsurfing experience from 2007: So I decided to go on vacation alone for a week and visit three cities in Spain that I wanted to go to(Barcelona, Granada, and Seville). I contacted Couchsurfers from each of those cities and I met up with them. I spent two nights at Anibal's place in Barcelona, which was my first Couchsurfing experience. I had such a great time in Barcelona that I decided to contact others in Granada and Seville, and I was not let down again. I liked meeting different people and learning their life stories, I hope this experience continues as I travel throughout the world...or just in my hometown :)

My seasoned Couchsurfing experiences from 2007-2023: Couchsurfing has changed a lot since its inception in 2004. Couchsurfing was created not as a free hotel stay but as a venue to get to know others. I noticed a shift in those requesting to stay at my place in 2016 when I started getting requests from those not interested in getting to know me but only needing a free place to stay or a place to 'hook up' with others.

Aside from my rant on how CS has changed, some of the best stories I have had on my travel adventures have been from my CS experiences. For instance, I went to Bolivia in 2019 and stayed at Harry's place and we talked about Bolivian politics, and we went to some places together and just hung out as if we were long-time friends. I also met up with another Couchsurfer in Bolivia, and we had lunch together. This is just one example of many where I got to learn about people who are different from me. These are experiences that I live for when I travel.

Although I can no longer host people (I live far from the city and I am protective of my small child), I still try to meet Couchsurfers in Atlanta. I have made some great friends, and I am forever thankful for the Couchsurfing project.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My pancakes and my life experiences. I do have some entertaining stories.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Gibraltar, India, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ecuador, South Korea, Spain, United States

Old School Badges

  • 3 Vouches
  • Pioneer Badge

Join Couchsurfing to see Manisha’s full profile.

My Groups