Hi there! My name is Samaneh, an Iranian currently living in Seoul, South Korea. If my name is difficult to pronounce, you can call me Sami, Sama, or Sin Shin 😁

I’ve been living in Seoul for almost five years. I spent four of those years doing my Ph.D., and I’m currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at Korea University. If you’re visiting the campus, we could even grab lunch there together 😎

If we hang out, I’d love to talk about research (especially if we are in a similar field), life as a foreigner in Korea, and the most exciting topic of all—travel stories and experiences from different parts of the world.

Before life got so busy, I loved traveling, camping, hiking, and pretty much any outdoor adventure. These days my schedule is quite hectic, so I spend a lot of time behind my desk. But if you offer me a good excuse to escape my chair and explore outside, I’ll definitely say yes!
My IG: siiiiinshiiiin (currently because of war in Iran, I only share the war news)

Philosophy:
Live your life :-)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I’m on Couchsurfing to share my travel experiences and to learn from others about the world. I really enjoy meeting people from different cultures, exchanging stories, and discovering new perspectives through conversations.

Interests

I love spending time in nature, especially near the sea and the mountains. Being outdoors helps me disconnect from busy life and recharge.

I’m also very interested in Iranian literature, particularly poetry and classical novels, and I enjoy reading whenever I have time.

Now, in my fifth decade of life, I feel curious about starting a new journey or challenge. I’ve always enjoyed writing, so maybe writing could become a bigger part of my life. I also have a passion for cooking, and exploring that more seriously sounds exciting too.

Or maybe I’ll discover something completely new that I haven’t even thought about yet—that’s part of the beauty of life and meeting new people.

• books
• music
• swimming
• dance
• mountain climbing
• trips

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to almost all types of music, but I have a special place in my heart for Iranian classical music.

When it comes to reading, I mostly enjoy poetry, classical novels, and history. Recently, I’ve been reading books by Irvin Yalom.

I’m also a big fan of TV series. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Breaking Bad
2. The Sopranos
3. The Wire
4. Mad Men
5. Band of Brothers
6. Game of Thrones
7. True Detective
8. Vikings (this one might be replaced soon 😅)
9. Better Call Saul
10. Succession

I also listen to a lot of podcasts, mostly in Farsi.

And of course, as an Iranian, I’m a big fan of Persian poetry—especially poets like Rumi, Ferdowsi, Hafez, and Saadi

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

1.One of the most amazing things I’ve ever done was observing the night sky through a telescope. It completely changed my life and made me fall in love with astronomy 😅 When I lived in Iran, I had two telescopes and spent countless nights observing the cosmos—the Moon, planets, the Milky Way, nebulae, meteors, eclipses, and occultations.
2.Watching the transit of Venus across the Sun in 2012 was a truly unique experience for me.
3.During meteor shower nights, I had the chance to see two very large meteors while observing the sky. I will never forget those moments.
4.I was part of a cycling team that traveled from the north of Iran to the south of Iran to support WFTGA 2017, when Iran hosted tour guides from all around the world.
5.I spent 20 days backpacking along the coastline of Turkey, experiencing hitchhiking, camping, and Couchsurfing along the way.
6.Iran has many nomadic communities, and my family belongs to one of them. I’ve experienced nomadic life several times, and it’s a truly unique lifestyle. I could talk about it for hours.
7.Free diving and snorkeling in the Persian Gulf was another life-changing experience for me. Every time I did it, I felt like I was in paradise—it’s hard to describe with words. I highly recommend trying it on the southern beaches or islands of Iran.
8. Living with nomad families and reindeers in Mongolia

Teach, Learn, Share

Everything that I know, I would love to share; Everything that I don't know, I would love to learn.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Very delicious Persian food :)
• Lots of stories about Iran, its culture, and my travel experiences
• Good conversations about travel, astronomy, research, and life in Korea

Countries I’ve Visited

Azerbaijan, Japan, Mongolia, Philippines, Russian Federation, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Iran, South Korea