I am a 30-year old woman with an MFA in Photography from the Beijing Film Academy. I returned to Pakistan in 2018 and am working as a University Lecturer.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

For my Master's thesis, I embarked on a longitudinal documentary photography project The Odyssey of Choice. The series deconstructs unconventional domestic spaces occupied by women in urban Pakistan, the unconventional ways in which they occupy public spaces, and the beautiful healing ways they affirm each other through behenchara (sisterhood) and intimacy. For this project, I often travelled far and wide and CS appeared to be the perfect way to cover room and board while away from home.

Interests

With no academic background in art or film, I moved to China in 2013 to learn Mandarin and pursue a masters degree. I am mostly self-taught in photographic technique, fluent in three languages and have worked on various student and medium-sized film and video productions. My work falls under the categories of documentary and experimental, mostly challenging conformist ideas of masculinity and womanhood.

• culture
• photography
• filmmaking

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Backpacked from Beijing to Rawalpindi in 23 days, stopping in 11 cities on the way.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am as ready to learn as I am to teach, be it language or other everyday skills.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can help around the house and be an excellent company. I am a sensitive person, which I consider both a strength and a weakness but this has taught me to be perceptive of others' emotions and needs. I respect boundaries and expect this to be reciprocal.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Egypt, Japan

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Egypt, Pakistan