[March 2020: Sadly, we are social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 and thus cannot welcome guests. We hope to host again soon.]

We welcome travelers of any national origin, religion or ethnicity to stay in our home!

PLEASE PLAN AHEAD. We almost never accept last minute requests--I don't even get around to checking my email every day. The more advance notice, the better your chances are. Also, if we accept, please reply to confirm and give your ETA if possible. It's all about communication!

In your request message, please tell us a little about what brings you to Columbus and why you chose us to surf with. "Dude is it cool if i crash tonight kthxbai" will not get a favorable response. Also, be sure to fill out your profile.

ABOUT ME

My CS hosting got me some attention from the local newspaper. Read more here... http://vorpalbla.livejournal.com/538680.html#cutid1

Charlene:
Freelance writer
Vegetarian (will eat fish sometimes)
Cat lady
Book lover, especially if the book has interesting characters
I do some community theatre. Favorite Roles: Elaine in "Arsenic and Old Lace"; Countess Ilona Bathory in "The House of Frankenstein"; and Cinderella's Stepmother in "Into the Woods".
Awesome places/experiences: skydiving, seeing the Northern Lights, coastal Maine (if magic exists, it would live there), Volcan Poas in Costa Rica, and snorkeling in Grand Cayman.
I love to meet interesting people who have had experiences different from my own.

Jeff:
clinical social worker
atheist/humanist
happy to discuss politics, religion, psychology or philosophy with anyone, especially those who disagree with me
despite my progressive stances on politics and religion, I am a bit old-fashioned about etiquette; I believe in saying "please," "thank you," "you're welcome," returning phone calls, and showing up on time when possible. Also old-fashioned in that I enjoy reading physical books.
fishetarian (can't give up sushi or shrimp yet, but I don't eat birds or mammals). May someday go vegan.
like to travel when time and money allow.
Varying facial hair: usually have a beard in the winter. no tattoos or piercings.
rarely watch TV, other than a few sports (OSU Buckeyes fan). Like movies, though.
I love to read. alternate between fiction and nonfiction. politics, history, psychology, physical fitness, economics. I follow the news closely.
favorite places on the planet: The Yucatan, Yosemite, San Francisco, Yellowstone, coastal Maine, the Netherlands, downtown Chicago, NYC, Firenze, and the Canadian Rocky Mountains
Some favorite restaurants include Japanese Oriental Restaurant, Cumin, Barley's, and anywhere with good Japanese/Chinese/Thai/Indian/Mexican. I like to cook when I have time and inclination
We live in Clintonville, in the northern part of Columbus. 5-6 miles from Ohio State campus area, and 9 miles from the center of downtown.

PHILOSOPHY

see above

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We host whenever possible, and have surfed in several cities.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Jeff:
I've had great times surfing and hosting. My most unique surfers have included Moayed, recently arrived from Iraq, and Nic, who was walking across the country from NYC to LA. I also enjoyed surfing with Ho Lin, right in the middle of the action in San Francisco.

Charlene:
I love the sense of community Couch Surfing brings...right into my living room. I have enjoyed hosting and being hosted. Sandra from Germany greeted us at the train station with a big bear hug. I knew I had found a home, even if it was just overnight.

Interests

See "About Me"

• cats
• birds
• fish
• writing
• books
• tattoos
• piercings
• cooking
• vegetarian
• vegan
• fitness
• walking
• clubbing
• gardening
• politics
• news
• movies
• reading
• tv
• traveling
• magic
• fishing
• camping
• surfing
• snorkeling
• skydiving
• atheism
• sports
• economics
• freelancing
• history
• psychology
• religion
• social work
• tourism
• mountains

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Charlene:
I traveled to a summer camp for orphans in Russia. I spent two weeks playing with cute and amazing kids. I got to introduce them to things American kids enjoy: balloons, frisbees, and S'Mores.

Jeff:
Let complete strangers sleep in my home.
(Well, it's probably not amazing to you if you're reading this, but it throws some non-CS friends and family for a loop)

visited 25 states (50%)Create your own visited map of The United States or Free android travel guide

visited 16 states (7.11%)Create your own visited map of The World or Brazil travel guide for Android

Teach, Learn, Share

Jeff:
I am happy to teach or learn about mental health/social work, philosophy, gardening, secular humanism, travel, and applying rational thinking to improving one's quality of life.

Charlene:
I love to learn new things, especially from cultures different from my own. I can teach beginners about gardening, vegetarianism, and commuting to work by bicycle.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Interesting stories!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, United States

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