ABOUT ME

Hello there, all!

My name is Laurel (a hybrid of Laura and Elizabeth), and I've always been fascinated with collecting people's unique stories and experiences, so it only makes sense I'd try to learn as much about us and our diverse cultures as I could possibly soak in. I believe we all have stories worth sharing, and that we can find commonalities with anyone we meet. Yet even with our commonalities, it is important to cherish and attempt to understand our many, many differences with one another.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

So far, I've yet to have a chance to delve into the CouchSurfing community, as I've only recently been introduced to the site. But I am willing to immerse myself as much as I can! Everywhere I visit, I want to learn as much about the local culture as possible and hear the stories of every person I stay with.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've only truly couchsurfed once, and the girl I stayed with was a friend of a friend, but it was an experience I won't soon forget. My boyfriend and I were at a loss as to where to stay in New York, and neither of us could afford a hotel at all. So I reached out a friend who spends a great deal of time traveling around the states, and who has made many new friends doing so. A few days later, he excitedly told me that a girl he met on a trip to Spain lived in Brooklyn and would be more than happy to host us.

We were thrilled. When we got there, we couldn't stop smiling. She lived in a lower-income neighborhood in Brooklyn, but as soon as we arrived, she took us to a park on a hill that had a perfect view of the city and the Statue of Liberty. She also knew of the best Mexican restaurant in town, as well as delicious bagel places. And she had this incredible book that featured cheap and free things to do around the city. She couldn't have been more helpful and welcoming. She regularly visited the Occupy movement and regaled us with her stories of the people there, and she shared so many tips on how to navigate the subway system.

The experience we had with her made me realize how beneficial couchsurfing is. If we had stayed in a hotel, we wouldn't have known that her neighborhood - with its fragrant restaurants and hilltop park - even existed. And we wouldn't have had a friend to help us find our way around town to the cheapest and most culturally appealing places. We had the time of our lives for that whole week and never set foot in Times Square (or any other tourist trap) once. ;)

Interests

As far as other interests go, I am your typical fantasy/science fiction nerd. My father introduced me to Star Wars before I entered elementary school and The Lord of the Rings soon after, so my future obsession with their genres was inevitable. I shamelessly adore being a dungeon master for Dungeons and Dragons and can weave a pretty good tale while doing it. I also live creatively and passionately, making sure to set aside time to read, paint, hike, and explore as often as possible. I can tell you all about the wildlife in Florida, including narrow escapes from alligators and sharks, as well as beautiful encounters with dolphins, horses, and every creature in between.

• wildlife
• horses
• culture
• books
• poetry
• clubbing
• traveling
• painting
• hiking
• science

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm a sucker for spoken-word poetry, and one of the most powerful moments of my life was watching a group of slam poets in the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City belt out their deepest hurts, their most enrapturing loves, and their most inspiring words of wisdom. Those few hours left an imprint on my heart that won't soon fade away.

Countries I’ve Visited

England, France, Italy, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States