My obsession with traveling began like most others.  I was in the midst of my first big trip to a far-away land (in my case it was China) and I found myself experiencing these feelings that I never wanted to go away.  They were feelings such as wanderlust, excitement, and amazement, but most importantly I felt like I had found, at least for myself, what the meaning of life was.  And thus, I have been consumed by the desire to travel ever since and it has now become truly a lifestyle.

Me and some new Chinese friends on that significant trip to China!

After that trip I made certain to travel as often as I possibly could.  1 year I left the country 15 times!  Although, I felt perpetually jet lagged, I was the most content I had ever been, because I was living a life of passion and fulfillment.

4 years ago, I was introduced to Couchsurfing by a fellow traveler.  I was hesitant in the beginning to join, however after some gentle nudging I did and I can say whole-heartedly that it was an extraordinarily life changing decision.  My weekly column is going to delve into the world of Couchsurfing.  I will discuss how it has impacted my life through personal stories, as well tips on how to use it to your full advantage and on ways to avoid having negative experiences.

In the meantime, I will leave you with 2 links to check out:  1) This article was written by my friend Kristin, whom I met through Couchsurfing.  It is a really good introduction to the site, plus I have a little cameo in it.  2) Here is my Couchsurfing profile.  Once you have joined the site, please come and visit me and I will be glad to show you around the South!

[Editor's Note:  I am very excited to begin featuring Andi's weekly column on Couchsurfing!  If you have any questions or concerns you would like Andi to address in future articles, please leave a comment below to let her know.]