Hi, I’m Kaitlyn!
I started couch surfing back in 2019 and fell in love with the vision behind and community within Couchsurfing. I’m from MI originally and am currently living here in Grand Rapids. I work a lot right now but I have a pretty comfy couch and may be able to host for shorter stays if my two roommates are okay with it.
We’d prefer to host female travelers, but are not completely against hosting others if we’re able to!

A bit about me:
I am an outgoing introvert, I need quite a bit of time to be alone, reflect, and recharge, but I thoroughly love conversing with strangers and getting to know new people. Humans are so intricate and complex and beautiful, I consider it a privilege to travel and meet more beautiful souls.

I love being outside and moving; whether biking, playing soccer, skateboarding, hiking, running, climbing a tree, etc. I just like to move and have fresh air. I also love to make people laugh, and by default, end up making myself laugh a lot (especially at my puns and dad jokes).

Music:
I love sharing, playing and enjoying music with people!
I started songwriting when I was 6, taught myself to play guitar when I was 14, and have been performing since I was 15. I have one full album out along with an acoustic EP I made in 2015. =) I love playing music and sharing stories with others, so if you want to jam together or just swap music recommendations I’m always down for that!

Radom Facts:
Water is my favorite thing to drink (though I do love tea and coffee as well).
Sushi is my favorite food, followed by any kind of seafood, fruit, and Indian food.
I want to live in Italy someday. I also want to sky dive, paraglide in Rio de Janeiro, hike in Hawaii, and live in Alaska for a summer.
I'm pretty much always writing about something and have filled over 25 journals in my life (not to mention all of my notebooks...)
I love swimming, but I hate being wet once I’m out of the water. It's weird.
And I once spent the night in what use to be C.S. Lewis’ bedroom.

Some Bucket List things:
Dance with a friend under the northern lights
See the Goo Goo Dolls live
Meet Paul McCartney and discuss songwriting
Learn another language fluently
Learn to play the drums

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've never liked staying in hotels or inns because they feel so sterile and impersonal. I’d much rather stay with locals and see a glimpse into their life in a place I'm not from; it helps me understand the place and culture better.
Couchsurfing is honestly such a brilliant idea! It makes sense for travelers to host one another and not only help keep costs of travel low, but the host can also share knowledge about the area and swap stories of their own adventures!

Interests

• culture
• writing
• dancing
• reading
• music
• travel
• biking
• learning
• climbing trees
• being active
• writing poetry
• hackysack
• hiking mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

These are in no particular order.

Music:
Simon and Garfunkel
The Beatles
The Killers
Michael Jackson
Mumford and Sons
Ben Howard
The Lumineers
Goo Goo Dolls
Eve 6
The Cranberries
Counting Crows
Eisley
Chris Daughtry
Daughter
Of Monsters and Men
Penny and Sparrow
Ed Sheeran
Connie Francis
Aretha Franklin
Pink
Dermot Kennedy
Lewis Capaldi
Kaleo
First Aid Kit
The Head and The Heart
I could go on forever but I'll just stop here.

Movies:
Newsies
Lion King
Braveheart
A Quiet Place
The Help
Hairspray
The Blindside
Second Hand Lions
The Proposal
The Patriot
Avatar
12 Years A Slave (hardest movie I've ever watched)
The Avengers
How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days
Castaway
GroundHogs Day
P.S. I Love You
Never Been Kissed
Hacksaw Ridge
Again, there are so many, but I'll stop there.

Hmm... books. I have this thing where I read constantly but never remember what books I've read. If someone says the title, I'll remember what it was about, but I can't remember what books I read. That being said, here are some favorites I can remember:
The Bible
Writing Down The Bones
Flames of Rome
The Artisan Soul
Love Does
Oliver Twist
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn
The Hiding Place
Mere Christianity
The entire Chronicles of Narnia series
Anything by Dr. Suess

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hmmm... these questions have so much pressure. Suddenly I question what really is "amazing."
Here are a couple things that were amazing for me:
1. I hiked the Appalachian Trail alone in Virginia for a week. One day I got lost from the trail in a downpour and wound up surrounded by trees with posters saying "Danger! Bear Territory!" I spent two hours hiking up a waterfall (while it rained) to find my way back. This is actually a very long, humorous, and terrifying story, but I lived and that's what matters.
2. I did my first music tour in 2018 across the West Coast and got to meet so many wonderful humans, hike in all the National Parks I've been dreaming of, and play at the legendary "Whisky A Go Go" venue in LA only a week after Aerosmith played there!
3. I produced my entire debut album and got to see every detail through start to finish.
4. Spent 2 months traveling the UK, couchsurfing, and staying in hostels. Met a lot of amazing people and had many surprising experiences I loved!

Teach, Learn, Share

Everyone has something they can teach you if you are willing to learn from them.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share with you my music, my laughter, my peanut butter (if I really like you), my stories, and enjoy hearing yours as well.
I've traveled a fair amount and have met a good amount of people. As a natural and eager learner, I’d like to believe I have acquired a pretty eclectic array of skills and hobbies. Whether that’s cooking you a meal, taking you out for a drink, finding a cool local coffee shop together, teaching you how to spin fire or swing dance, I’d love to get to know you!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, France, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, United States