Svenja Schlattau, a native of Hamburg, Germany, knew she wanted to travel to the United States since she could remember. After that dream was made possible through a high school exchange program, her positive experience with her host family in Wisconsin and the many friends she made inspired her to continue traveling and connecting with people - and connecting people.

This episode delves into the advantages of spending a year in another country as a kid, and Svenja’s perspective on hosting hundreds - literally - of couch surfers from around the world over the years.