My favorite part of traveling is being inspired and learning other people's stories. Couchsurfing is a great way to do that. Staying with a local and being able to ask someone you're comfortable with questions about a city and culture adds an invaluable element to a trip, something you can never get at a hostel.

Music: https://soundcloud.com/shelby-streachek My music taste always changing, but currently really into the Sly and the Family Stone discography. Music is essential to my life, share your favorites with me. Movies: The Departed, Catch me if you can, Slumdog Millionaire... I fall asleep during the first 30 min of most movies, so if I can stay awake past that point it's probably an ok movie. Books: Shantaram, biographies, Scar Tissue, One Day, Catcher in the Rye, history, non-fiction