Couch Surfing!

Couch Surfing is something I (Erika) had heard about a few months ago and after spending some time looking through the website, I really wanted to try it out.

Couch Surfing is an online social network, very similar to Facebook, which many of us are so familiar. But unlike Facebook, it is mostly filled with people who have a deep love of travel, people who have done extensive traveling and encourage others to do the same. You create an extensive profile and can search for people all over the world who are willing to have you stay….on their couch for a few days with the understanding that you will give back to the Couch Surfing community.

But it’s not just a place to stay for free. It’s a place to meet and interact with people all over the world. While you are staying with someone, you are doing so with the understanding that you will hang out, sometimes cook with, clean with, and basically get to really know someone. It’s an opportunity to share stories and experiences; one guy in Italy likes to teach his couch surfers how to make perfect pasta!

Don’t worry, there are several steps you go through to prove that you are who you say your are. And you are able to look at everyone’s profile and you select whom you choose to contact. For example, while AJ and I are searching for people to stay with, we generally search for other young couples so that we can stay with people who can show us around from a couples’ point of view.

So far we have three couch surfing stops, all in France. We have been in email contact for the past few weeks, learning about each other, working out travel plans, etc. Each person, or couple we are staying with are excited to show us around the art and architecture of the area and enjoy some delicious meals with us.

We are so excited to have an opportunity to learn and experience culture from the people who create it! If you’re interested, check it out: Couch Surfing