Years ago, I wrote about my experience couchsurfing all over the world. I never talked about how exactly I got into couchsurfing. The story dates back to 2012 when I spent a summer doing research in England.
I took the train into London on the weekends. On my first weekend there, I met a friendly local who decided to take me in on the weekends. In addition to showing me around all over London, he gave me a place to stay with his roommates so I didn't have to travel back and forth.
I did not expect to learn about couchsurfing and become a huge advocate within the couchsurfing community!
Meeting Dean
I met Dean at a conference. He was a South African transplant working on his PhD on the philosophy of science at the London School of Economics. But the conference we were attending had little to do with science.
The conference was Polyday—a one-day conference with talks on all types of nonmonogamous relationships and related topics. This was a great conference for me as a gender and sexuality researcher in my 4th year of graduate school. This was also personally relevant to how I develop my own relationships.
To find a conference as progressive and financially accessible (less than $20) as this back in 2012 was exciting for me!
I knew nobody at the conference. But there were only maybe 100 people in attendance and they organized activities that made it easy to make friends. Dean and I started talking almost immediately.
We attended sessions together and then we went out for some food. He told me he had roommates named Jess and Roni at home and that he had to get back soon. His roommates were out and he needed to meet some people who were coming to stay with him.
I asked if they were family and he said "No, I don't know them. They're basically strangers." What?? I was already intrigued.
My Intro To Couchsurfing
Dean invited me to come back with him. He had a bicycle with him but took the buses there with me.
As we were approaching the front door of his “flat” (I love British lingo!), the two strangers were right on time. They were an older couple in their late 50s. They strolled up to the door at the same time as us with two big backpacks and a bottle of wine in one hand.
Inside, Dean led them into the living room. It was already evening, so he moved an inflatable mattress out of a side room and spread it on the floor. Dean mentioned the couch and the mattress were options. The man in the couple said, "Yes, this is great! Better than our last place!" He handed Dean the bottle of wine, "I didn't know what you liked but thanks for putting us up!"
I was flabbergasted. How nice and adventurous were these people?!
Later, I asked Dean more about couchsurfing. "So they aren't paying you to stay here?" "How do you know they are safe?" He answered all of my questions and then suggested I make a profile at couchsurfing.com. "It’s a totally free website. Just make a profile and I'll give you your first review!" he said.
I was convinced. I made a profile and Dean gave me my first reference to help me start building my credibility as a good guest.
Eventually, I met Dean’s roommates. I stayed with him, Jess, and Roni almost every weekend during my 4 weeks in London. We cooked together. We partied together. We wore fake mustaches together...
Yup that’s me being weird.
Jess with another couchsurfer, Odin
Roni and Dean
I think I’m chopping a potato? I don’t know…
A World Opening To Me
We even partied with an Argentinian musician named Odin who couchsurfed with them after the couple left. There for almost two weeks, he was an amazing singer-songwriter who filled their home with beautiful tunes.
Oh! How cool. I just found a video I took of Odin playing his guitar! Have a listen…
I remember one night having a long conversation with Odin about life, travel, couchsurfing, Argentina. It was one of the most interesting conversations I had in a while outside of my graduate program. I remember this discussion with him solidified my buy-in to couchsurfing.
Odin offered to give me another reference on my couchsurfing profile and then invited me to visit him in Argentina one day. “It’s so beautiful, you’ll love it!” he said.
I still haven't made it to Argentina but when I go I definitely plan to link up with Odin or anyone he knows there!
Odin and Jess goofing around on the couch!
This is one of the wonderful benefits of couchsurfing. Once a friend through couchsurfing, always a friend.
I actually met up with Dean when he was visiting NYC with his girlfriend a couple of years later. It was awesome to see him and have a lunch break to sit in central park and catch up.
You meet so many people from all around the world. Trust builds quickly—and so you end up with great friends from everywhere. This makes travel more financially accessible and honestly more fun. The world opens up in ways you never imagined before.
Exploring London With A Local
One of the best benefits of couchsurfing is when you have a host who will devote real time to exploring with you.
Dean was exactly this host. He had an extra bicycle for me to borrow so we could ride around the city together.
Catching Dean a little off guard for this photo with his trusty bicycle
We road all along the Regents Canal one weekend taking pit stops at various highlights. We stopped at galleries, marketplaces, parks, and even the famous Abbey Road!
But I'll share all of that next time when I write about all of the highlights I saw during my weekend stays in London.
In Conclusion
The fact that Dean was my introduction to couchsurfing was a real selling point for getting started in the community. There's truly nothing like meeting a local host who is as open and welcoming and motivated to show me around as Dean.
What I have learned through couchsurfing is the world is full of friendly people like this who simply enjoy meeting new people and showing them a great time.
I can't wait to show you the other adventures I had in London, both with others and on my own! Stay tuned!
