CouchSurfing

When I introduce people to the concept of CouchSurfing, I typically get one of two responses. The first is "Oh wow, that is SO cool!" The second is "Are you crazy?!?" I want you all to know that I do in fact make a judgement about you based on your response.

I first heard about CouchSurfing in the summer of 2008, and really discovered it for myself in the summer of 2010. By then it had become a relatively well-known network around the world, and I knew it was a community I wanted to plug into whilst in Romania. There are literally millions of members in over 230 countries and territories around the world, a network of people who believe in sharing culture, making connections, being friendly, and exploring the world.

Here is the vision of CouchSurfing: We envision a world where everyone is inspired to help and care for each other, regardless of difference in culture or ideologies. We believe that the more we see the world as an exciting mix of unique peoples, the more motivated we are to protect and preserve diversity. 

The mission of CouchSurfing: Our mission is to create "Inspiring Experiences." Inspiring experiences are fun, exciting, and accessible experiences that stimulate people to learn and grow. Experiences of this nature encourage people to explore and connect with people and places that are different than what they're accustomed to. If enough of us have these kinds of experiences, we may begin to see a world where people feel a greater sense of connection with each other, in spite of differences. These connections help us appreciate diversity and build a global community that is inspired to seek harmony when conflicts inevitably arise. 

Pretty cool, right? If you're interested in learning more, click here.

I'm currently hosting a 19 year old woman from Germany named Aline. She is absolutely adorable in every "little sister" sense of the word, and has a pretty brave story. She has been traveling through the United States and Canada for the last 7 months, and will return to Germany at the end of September. She's rather fantastic, and I'm so glad to be able to share this experience with her.