PLEASE READ MY WHOLE PROFILE BEFORE REQUESTING A COUCH. INCLUDING THE " MY HOME" SECTION.

I CANNOT HOST 2 PEOPLE. please do not request for 2 people.

IF YOU NEED JUST A FLOOR TO SLEEP ON AND 'CRASH', PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT ME. Couchsurfing is to meet new people and share cultural experiences. Not just about a free place to stay.

Also, it's nice if you write your email and address it to me by name. This shows me you have read my profile. No my name is not cookiecat, it's. Courtney, and I am a very genuine and outgoing woman in my 40s, who is open to meeting people of all ages and philosophies. I always bring stories and a willingness to share them. I hope you will too.

I'm both book/street smart, but can be pretty goofy at times. As much as I love to travel, I also love to work because my jobs have often involved doing something that is correcting an injustice in the world. I enjoy talking about most things and want to meet new people and discover new places as often as I can. For me its about connections. To people, to the world, to culture, to nature, to my inner self.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Because it's been an amazing way to see the world - by inviting the world into my home! Impossible to describe the incredible people I have met from CS. It has changed my life completely and made me believe that people around the globe can be kind to each other.

WHY I HOST:
I host to meet new people and also show that New York City is a friendly, amazing place. If you are only looking for a free place to stay with no cultural exchange, then I am not the host for you.

WHO I HOST:
I host people who are genuinely interested in meeting new people and learning about other people's lives, perspectives and experiences. I do NOT host people who do not use my name in the request or do not mention something about why they want to surf with me specifically. That's just an indication of someone being lazy and impersonal. If you are gonna ask to stay in someone's home, at least say hello to them by name! If you understand and share this sentiment, we are probably a good match.

It's very important that you are an independent traveller and wont wait for me to take you by the hand and show you around. Sometimes I wont be able to do that because of my schedule.

When I have time to spend, and I usually will, I enjoy walking around the city with my surfers and showing them places they may not otherwise know about. I like to go to some bars and for inexpensive but delicious meals. Long conversations about everything in life is the best part of couch surfing I've made many close friends over the years and couch surfing is changed my life for the better.

I am more likely to consider your request if you have your profile filled out with lots of information and with a picture posted. If you have no references, I still might host you, but only if you have a lot of info posted and I think we have some things in common.

I'm straight but dont care what your sexual orientation is. Im a vegetarian, and I dont care what you eat - though I prefer that no meat be cooked in the kitchen.

WHEN I HOST:
I prefer to host on weekends. I can usually offer 2 nights, but if it goes very well, I can extend more nights.

I prefer to host someone at the start of their trip because -- and yes, this may sound crazy but it's the sad reality in NYC -- there is a bed-bug problem here for the past few years and I don't want these little, ruthless, impossible-to-get-rid-of bugs to jump from another NYC host's apartment onto your lovely backpack and then into my lovely home.

MY HOSTING PERSONALITY: I am a straight-forward host and even though you might offer to cook, or prepare your bed when you first arrive, or do the dishes, I prefer to do these things for my guest. If you offer your help, and I say "No, I've got it", I really mean this. Trust me, at some point during your stay, I'll probably say, "Hey, can you do this...?" :-)

I'd like you to feel at home so there is no need to ask to get a glass of water, use the shower, etc. Make yourself at home, open the refrigerator, make tea if you like, plug in your phone to recharge - go for it!

Interests

Travel, naturally. Next to travel, I love movies the most. Then history. INterested in psychology and how people and the world works (or, sadly, doesn't work). Trying to fix it!

• culture
• books
• cooking
• vegetarian
• walking
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• blogging
• backpacking
• history
• psychology
• sightseeing

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: The Who, Radiohead, Nirvana, Clash, Beck, Beethoven, Bowie, Billie Holiday & Beatles. Lots more, but always open to learning about more bands.

Movies: Lars Von Trier, Hitchcock, Francois Truffaut, Stanley Kubrick, Luis Bunuel, Mike Leigh, documentaries, independent films, classic B&W from the 1930s-40s, as well as silly movies and sci-fi, stupid Hollywood blockbusters, pretty much anything 0 as long as it's good!

Books: I read mainly non-fiction essays, especially travel essays. I love reading about history but 1000 page books arent my strong suit. Some faves are Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad; the non-fiction book about Rwanda genocides, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. The recently re-published journal by Anonymous, A Woman in Berlin: 8 Weeks in a Conquered City. I also like well-written thrillers (yeah, like the Stieg Larsson stuff) and one cannot leave out of any important book list, Dr. Seuss's Fox in Socks.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I dont want to diminish the importance of everything I have done by choosing one as "amazing". All experiences have value.

Teach, Learn, Share

And check out my blog NEW YORK WALKABOUTS.
It has LOTS of useful information and tips for sightseeing, discounts, where to find bathrooms, free wi-fi, restaurant reviews, airport info and so so much more NYC information.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Humorous stories, take you for a wonderful meal at a restaurant of your choice, my friendship.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belize, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, United States

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