I'm on an adventure. And even though I'm having a pretty great time living it on my own, I would like to meet new people around here for friendship (and maybe romance). Either fellow travelers, or natives of this exotic land in the southwest of Germany.

I grew up in Boston, USA, but in 2005 I left and decided to make San Francisco my home. In my opinion there's nowhere in the world more beautiful than San Francisco (and the surrounding beaches, mountains, and valleys of northern California). But after finishing my PhD last spring (I studied biochemistry at UCSF), I had an opportunity to come here to Tübingen, Germany to pursue postdoctoral research on a really interesting topic (it has to do with little microscopic worms and programmed cell death, and yes I would be happy to tell you more, I love talking about my work). I couldn't pass up the chance to see what it's like to live and work in Europe. It's my favorite kind of adventure: the kind where you have a stable income and a nice apartment to come home to every day :)

Right now, I'm working hard at my biology research job, and learning German by watching TV and by muddling through conversations at grocery stores and cafes. Also writing (yes, a novel, and it's about halfway done), and sharing writing and editing help with some friends in a manuscript group - though unfortunately the time difference between here and California makes it difficult to keep this up.

I would like to do more hiking here in Germany, since it's more fun than going to the gym. And I'm on a hunt for good German vegetarian food. Käsespätzle is pretty good, and so is Toastbrot with Nutella, but there must be more choices out there somewhere...

I love reading fiction. Recent favorites include T. C. Boyle, Jane Smiley, Joseph O'Neil, John Updike, Chris Adrian, Jonathan Franzen, Gary Shteyngart, Sherman Alexie.

Honestly I don't watch that many movies. But I watch Stephen Colbert, John Stewart, and a few other things on Hulu, and I like to watch Law and Order at the gym. All-time favorite TV shows: Star Trek, obviously (TNG and DS9), and more recently, The West Wing, The Wire, Deadwood, Arrested Development, 30 Rock.

I will not attempt to impress you with a list of cool but little-known indie rock bands that I like. You'll have to guess.

My MacBook Air
PG Tips
Small fancy chocolates (actually, any kind of chocolate)
Friends
An interesting place to go for a long walk
NPR

I'm very independent. I guess that's code for saying that I tend to go slow with relationships. And friendship is a prerequisite for romance. If those ideas resonate with you too, then go ahead and message me.