Hi, it's Shahed 🎸
I'm a PhD student from Iran, currently doing my research in Biomedical Engineering at University of Göttingen, Germany. Obviously I love travelling, but the most interesting part for me is always people. I love having those long, meaningful conversations about people's experiences, viewpoints, stories. You'll not agree with everything ofc, but if you learn even a bit, at the end you'll have an ocean of wisdom

I'm relatively new to Couchsurfing, although I've hanged around many times with hosts and travelers through my close friends who are active surfers in Iran. It was an other-worldly experience that encouraged me to do it personally as well.

Not to brag, but I'm a great cook! If you decide to host me, you can expect me to prepare a delicious, exotic meal (of course, I'll buy the food).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've hanged around with several CS travelers through my friends. They're actively host in a small beautiful island in the Persian Gulf (Kish). The experience has been so fantastic that I decided to do it myself, here in Germany.

I feel I have so much to give, so much to learn, and so much to share. Anybody who has visited Iran knows that hospitality and having open arms is not a stereotype with Iranian people! :)

Interests

Huge metal/rock fan, a movie enthusiast, occasional follower of TV series. I play guitar, though I'm an amateur! I watch lots of stand-up comedies, take portrait photos of random people, love hiking, and hanging out with friends. Have an open-arm for controversial topics! Also, I love doing researches on Bone, tissue engineering, and biomechanics!

• movies
• rock music
• scuba diving
• swimming
• mountain biking
• stand up comedy
• progressive rock
• tequila

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Thoroughly enjoy rock/progressive/metal music. Some of my favorite bands are: Alter Bridge, Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Tool, Mastodon, Radiohead.

Movies: I am a professional movie critic, and I wrote for the most prestigious film magazine in Iran between 2012-2015. Some of my favorite movies are: Magnolia, American Beauty, Almost Famous, Sideways, (500) Days of Summer, Punch-drunk Love

Books: INFINITE JEST!!!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

- Scuba diving in the Persian Gulf, in clear crystalline water!

- Hiking for three days through the massive forests of north Iran, with little to no reliance on food (probably my most liberating experience)

- Swimmimg in the zero-degree Gahar lake in Doroud! ❄

- Seeing Alter Bridge in Leipzig (best concert I've ever seen)

What I Can Share with Hosts

A bed for sleeping, my mini-bar for occasional drinks, my terrace if you enjoy smoking too! I can tell you about my favorite places/bars in Göttingen, and of course I always have open ears for interesting conversations

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, England, France, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Iran