CURRENT MISSION

To be as good hosts as guests, and make good friends along the way.

ABOUT ME

We're Alex and Kaitlin, a couple that fell in love making music that brings together the French and English traditions that make up our life here in Ottawa. Our band is called Moonfruits, and it's a toe-tapping folky adventure that we'd be happy to share with you. If you'd like to have a look and a listen, you can find us at: www.moonfruits.ca

Alex: I grew up in Orléans, a French-speaking suburb of Ottawa. I started playing music by learning classical guitar, and at 13 or so I began writing my own tunes. A little while later, I went on to lead rock and indie bands and then pursue music at university. Meanwhile becoming a music teacher, a job that I've held for nearly 20 years, though now with our touring schedule I only teach casually. Once my studies were done, I decided to take off on a long busking trip through Europe and, in many ways, it changed my life. Amongst others, it made me a lifelong appreciator of couchsurfing and the generosity of people. The most momentous meeting in my life has been Kaitlin, she's the person I walk with in life and in music.

Kaitlin: I grew up in Oakville, near Toronto. I got my start in music singing in a children's choir for a 10 years, meanwhile playing Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye records on repeat at home. After a break, I went back to start a Master's degree in sociology studying food security and alternative farming systems. In the end, though, I decided to move away from that program to do Moonfruits full-time and help the band get off the ground.

We're currently putting together our third record - this one a folk-meets-soul-meets-protest-song English-language record. We most recently toured in Canada, the Northeastern US, Belgium, France and Germany, with lots on the horizon. We had a wonderful time playing, cooking, and trading stories with our hosts.

We always like to mention that if you're interested in having us perform a house concert at your home, it's one of our favourite formats to play our music in and we'd be honoured to play chez vous.

PHILOSOPHY

We're both believers in the goodness of people and truly feel that a kinder, gentler world is possible.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

As traveling musicians, we love to liven up our hosts' household by sharing songs, stories and great meals.

Back in Canada, we often have people over for supper and love to welcome folks to sleep the night. We've only had the chance the host a few Couchsurfers formally through the website so far, but we welcome more opportunities to do so.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

We've had some great and truly heartwarming experiences through CS, some hosts and guests becoming lifelong friends. We look forward to sharing more with the CS community.

We see CS as a doorway leading to a whole world of like-minded people looking to share experiences and build a gentler and more trust-worthy traveling community.

Interests

We strive to find a good balance between music, cooking, time spent with family & friends, and building for the future.

• concerts
• cooking
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• teaching
• sociology

Music, Movies, and Books

Artists we love and respect:

Roberta Flack
Nina Simone
Marvin Gaye
Jeff Buckley
Radiohead
Sigur Ros
Luis Prima
Louis Armstrong
Claude Debussy
Maurice Ravel

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Getting married. :0)

Teach, Learn, Share

Alex: If it's something guests or hosts are into, I like to give little impromptu guitar and music lessons.

Kaitlin: I like to share recipes learned from an Italian roommate I once had.

What I Can Share with Hosts

We both love to share our music!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Spain

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