Surfing on a couch

1st September, 2011

Today and for the next few days, I will be couchsurfing on the couch on Starke and Breanna. They are a newly married couple and I am their first couchsurfing host. When I was paying $150 for a hotel room, I totally forgot about couchsurfing (it has been so long since I have done it). While I am still waiting (impatiently!) to find out about the outcome of my job application, I thought it best to stay in the Twin Cities. If I need to go somewhere in a hurry, I can do so more easily.

The house I am staying in is about halfway between Minneapolis and St. Paul. I was able to take buses to their house (though it took me a while). Their house is very colourful with differently coloured dishes and walls and artwork from all over the world, including St. Francis (playing guitar?) over the fireplace (see above). I have my own room, which is nice and I can take the spare set of keys so I can come and go as I please.

Starke and Breanna have been wonderful hosts so far. Starke is a recently graduated vet (hence the patron Saint of animals in his living room) and Breanna teaches in a school for Mexican immigrants. I have had some nice chats with them both. They have both travelled widely so we have a lot to talk about.

Today was a very hot day (95 degrees). I definately felt it as I carried my rucksack, suitcase and laptop bag while walking to the house. After I arrived, I had lunch with Starke and then we went to the mall. I bought a belt (and the guy looked strangely at my hand-made Tuscan belt from Pienza). Then we went shopping, which takes me ages because there is so much stuff to choose from. We then cooked a very nice dinner and chatted for the rest of the evening. Everyone was tired though (probably because of the heat).