Personal

Places I've Called Home

Iran

I grew up in Mashhad, in the eastern part of Iran, and hung out there for like 14 years. I also spent a year and a half in Tehran, the capital, and another six years in Shahroud, which is a really charming small town.

Japan

I was in Sendai for about 9 months when I was little, tagging along with my family. I have some adorable pics of me dressed up in Japanese outfits!

Australia

Australia might just top my list of faves for its awesome vibes, cool people, and culture! I spent 6 months there in year 10, at Kingswood High School in Penrith, a suburb of Sydney. Totally picked up the Australian accent while I was there, though it's pretty much gone now. Hit up Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, and did loads of sightseeing in Sydney too.

Switzerland

Spent four awesome months in Lausanne from July to October 2022. Ended up making friends from over 20 different countries! Did a bunch of hiking and checked out loads of gorgeous Swiss cities like Geneva, Zermatt, Kinderstagen, Zurich and Neuchâtel. Also went around Europe a bit — Austria, Italy and Germany. Totally would choose Switzerland for my honeymoon, no doubt about it.

Germany

I lived in Bochum for 6 months from July to December 2023. It was a pretty chill time, mostly sticking to indoor stuff like hitting the gym and swimming. Totally obsessed with Unifit back then — that place was my paradise. Also took some trips to Paris, Munich, and Switzerland (again), plus hit up nearby cities like Dortmund, Düsseldorf and Cologne while I was there.

Spain

From February 2025 until August 2025, I was living in Madrid. I honestly think Spain is the best country in the world. My student life there was nothing short of amazing. I met tons of incredible people, including the three legends in the photo below — Oliwia, Panulouis and Alessandera — whom I randomly bumped into at a hilariously lame Carnival. I also had two French roommates (aka ma vies) who made my time at the residence unforgettable. Madrid helped me level up my salsa moves and, let's be real, my "coolness" game too. The only downside? My Spanish is still embarrassingly basic.

Belgium

For a three-month academic visit, I lived in Leuven — a charming student city with a unique and lively atmosphere. Met some amazing souls there including Kangxin, Diego and Miha. My time there was truly memorable, especially with my bike — you can literally get anywhere by cycling.

UK

From January to March 2026, I spent time in Cambridge for an academic visit, and I absolutely loved the university atmosphere. By sheer luck, I was placed in postgraduate accommodation at Christ's College, where I ended up with the most incredible roommates (Team 6 Petersfield — the legends in the photo). I'm really looking forward to returning to Cambridge to begin my PhD.

Hobbies

Apart from enjoying some downtime, a big part of my life involves sports. I used to swim competitively, specializing in the butterfly stroke, and I still dream about swimming the 100m butterfly in under 60 seconds. Occasionally I do bouldering and ice skating. I'm a big fan of ballroom and dancing events. Salsa dancing, which I started as a joke with a friend, has become a favourite of mine, even though I'm still learning.

Favourite Shows

24

Caught this when I was just 12, and it's all about Jack Bauer being a total hero for his country.

Modern Family

This show's humour has its own unique and distinct flavour.

Peaky Blinders

I had to include it, BY THE ORDER OF THE PEAKY FUCKING BLINDERS.

How I Met Your Mother

Well, Barney Stinson is not something I wanna miss.

Gilmore Girls

Never got to live through the '90s and '00s, but something about those times feels just right. Watching this show kinda takes me back, and it's hard to put into words how awesome that feels.