I joined the website out of curiosity long before I worked up the courage to do it. I had heard great stories from Andi as well as friends from Charleston who had hosted people. But was I cut out for it? I felt weird about staying at a stranger's house in a strange city, but as I learned, … [Read more...] about Observations from a Couch Surfing Virgin
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Being the Three Sisters
There are many variations on the Aboriginal legend. In all versions, there were three sisters, named Meehni, Wimlah and Gunneedoo, members of the Katoomba tribe living in the Blue Mountains. The first version says that their father, Tyawan, possessed a magic shinbone that transformed him into a … [Read more...] about Being the Three Sisters
At Home at the End of the World
"What was your 'Oh my God, I'm in Australia' moment?" Heather asked me as we stood juxtaposed between Sydney's biggest icons: the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. I didn't know how to say that I hadn't had one yet. Sure, I knew I was here, but Sydney is exactly how I expected it to be. … [Read more...] about At Home at the End of the World
The TSA Has Seen Me Naked
I was eyeing all of the security lines, scouting out the shortest. "Right this way, This is the shortest line," the blue-clad TSA employee told me. Score, I thought to myself. As I walked down the long corridor, my overwhelming sense of dread alerted me to why: I had inadvertently entered the line … [Read more...] about The TSA Has Seen Me Naked
The Dark Side of Los Angeles
Long before Los Angeles was known for hard-partying celebrities, surreal urban sprawl and big-budget blockbusters, there was film noir. The genre changed Hollywood and escalated the writing career of one novelist James M. Cain. The film versions of his books made stars out of Lana Turner and Joan … [Read more...] about The Dark Side of Los Angeles