Couchsurfing Hosts

I learned about an online community called Couchsurfing in 2009 while I was visiting the United States. I had never hosted nor been hosted by the community before I started this project. However, I have used its “hangout” feature to meet some new friends. It is a very interesting community that allows people to create connections, especially people who love traveling and learning new cultures.

Couchsurfing is a homestay and social network community that connects members to find a place to stay without any cost but culture sharing during their travel trip (surfer) or to share their home with travelers (host).

Through this project, I want to share some stories of the Couchsurfing community in New York City and the surrounding vicinity, a group of people who open up their homes to travelers to learn and exchange cultures in return.

It has been fascinating to learn how people have the courage to host strangers in their homes. I was curious about their stories, life perspectives, and experiences they have had. Such as the advantages and disadvantages of hosting travelers in their own homes and personal spaces.

It has been an amazing journey. I went from house to house carrying my DSLR with one speed light and a diffuser to talk with them, to surf in some of their homes, and to create portraits with them.

In the world where social media has a lot of influence on our lives, this network helps bring people from all over the world closer. Is the world becoming a smaller place at the expense of the city becoming a larger place?