| The Wandering Wala has been vouched for |
| VERIFIED MEMBER Identity Checked, Location Verified (3) more info |
| Couch available | Yes |
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| CouchSurf requests replied to | 100% |
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| member since | May 2nd, 2006 |
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| profile views | 2,957 |
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| age | 48 |
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| gender | Several people |
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| membername | DWALA |
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| occupation | Business owner / Attorney / Young Students |
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| education | Undergrad / Phd was a long time ago, kids are in elementry anf middle schools |
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| grew up in | Payson, Arizona USA |
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| Direct Profile URL |
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Languages- EnglishExpert
- SpanishBeginner
- English (United States)Expert
Couch Information
Couch Available: Yes
Preferred Gender: Any
No smoking allowed
Has children: Yes
Can host children: Yes
Has pets: Yes
Can host pets: No
Max Surfers Per Night: 5
Shared Sleeping Surface: Depends
Shared Room: DependsYour group will have it's own room(s). Who sleeps with who on shared beds is your own business. None of our family will be sharing the same room with you unless the children decide that it makes sense to bunk together.
We have a bedroom available to guests. We are able to host up to 4 adults. We also have an inflatable aero bed that can be put on the floor in the theater. We are a family of four living in the geographic center of Arizona. Easy access to Phoenix/Scottsdale, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Meteor Crater, archeological sites. Like many places in the USA a car or other private transportation is really necessary. Children are 14 and 12 years old. Guests for accommodations are preferred to be families from other countries with at least one English speaker or persons involved with adventure sports, but all are welcome. We are non-smokers and ask that you smoke only outside our home or not at all.
Information on our area at:
http://www.paysonrimcountry.com/
Information on Arizona can be found at:
http://www.arizonahighways.com
We live live in a small town of Payson Arizona pop: 20000 100km NE of Phoenix/Scottsdale. We like to have fun, but are probably not a good fit for the party animal in you. Friends (25)
 That will be the Day
41, Several people
Las Vegas, Nevada
United States
Friends since January 1974
"They are in my family-my sister and brother in law."
Friendship Type: Best Friend
  30+  30+  30+ |
 John Roethlein
51, Several people
Payson, Arizona
United States
Friends since October 2005
"The Wala's are close friends and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet"
Friendship Type: Close Friend
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 Susanna + Tobias Linder
37, Several people
Aarau, Aargau
Switzerland
Friends since July 2009
"They surfed our couch "
Friendship Type: Good Friend
I vouched for The Wandering Wala
4 5 |
 Michele Visser
44, Several people
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada
Friends since January 2009
"We stayed with the Walas in beautiful Payson Arizona."
Friendship Type: Friend
I vouched for The Wandering Wala
4 |
 Elizabeth Martin
49, Female
Broken Hill, New South Wales
Australia
Friends since April 2010
"We surfed with them, now they have surfed with us!!"
Friendship Type: CouchSurfing Friend
I vouched for The Wandering Wala
3 1 |
 Lisa Browning
37, Several people
Exeter, Devon
England
Friends since July 2009
"They couchsurfed with my Mum"
Friendship Type: CouchSurfing Friend
|
 Tiffany Bray
38, Several people
Perth, Western Australia
Australia
Friends since July 2010
"Devin, Laurel and the kids stayed with us for a funfilled 3 days. We had a great time showing them around, shared some great meals and chatted endlessly about all kinds of things! We will really miss them and can't wait to catch up again soon!"
Friendship Type: Good Friend
3 |
 Annemarie Bracher
29, Female
Burgdorf, Bern
Switzerland
Friends since February 2008
"I hosted the Family Wala"
Friendship Type: CouchSurfing Friend
2 |
 Steve Lloyd
29, Male
Stirling, Stirling
Scotland
Friends since April 2009
"Couchsurfing!"
Friendship Type: Haven't met yet (link request is not recommended)
 |
 Nick and Gabrielle Yacoumis
62, Several people
Gawler, South Australia
Australia
Friends since July 2010
"Devin and his family stayedwith us for 3 nights"
Friendship Type: Good Friend
3 | | |
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Personal DescriptionWe are a family of four living in the geographic center of Arizona. Easy access to Phoenix/Scottsdale, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Meteor Crater, archeological sites. Children are 14 and 12 years old. Guests for accommodations are preferred to be families from other countries with at least one English speaker or persons involved with adventure sports, but all are welcome.
How I Participate in CSWe host, we surf, we do our best to live life like tomorrow isn't guaranteedCouchSurfing ExperienceHave had people from all over the world come stay with us. Done some hospitality exchange, will probably do some home exchange at some point.
InterestsCycling, kayaking, swimming, surfing, backpacking. Other cultures and their local histories. Improving our world. A bottle of wine and good conversation about anything with friends.
PhilosophyBe nice to each other.
Music, Movies, BooksYep, we like all of those.
Types of People I enjoyWe enjoy big people, little people, goofy people, serious people, odd people, people who can laugh at themselves, people who laugh at us.
We enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world who can share a little of their world with us.
Teach, Learn, ShareThe richest people I know are charitable in giving of themselves and in supporting their community, be it locally, nationally, or globally. But you already know that, that's why you're here.
Wish to learn:
your culture, your language, where you live. Just about anything
One Amazing Thing I've Seen or DoneSeen people reach out across culture and language. Trivial things of importance.
Opinion on the CouchSurfing.org ProjectWe joined couch surfing because we believe that worldwide hospitality exchange is a part of a path to a better world. We thought that we would be bringing ideas and inspiring others. In fact, it is us who have been exposed to new ideas and inspired by others.
Neither my wife nor I would have been interested in hosting a family with young children when we were in our early twenty's or younger. Yet we have been hosted multiple times by some very awesome young couch surfers and hospitality club members. How cool is that?
Locations TraveledTRAVELED: Aruba, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Canada, China, Curacao, Czech Republic, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland (Republic of), Italy, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, United States
LIVED: Mexico, United States
WANTS TO GO: Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Croatia, Cuba, Estonia, India, Nepal, Slovenia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
IS GOING TO: Japan, Mexico
What do these numbers mean?
This summary is not a replacement for reading references; it's a quick summary to help you get started. At a glance, you can see how many references a member has, and how many of them are positive, neutral, and negative.
In the second line, you'll see how many references came from people who hosted this member, surfed with them, and traveled with them. These numbers won't always add up to the total: some references are not categorized, and some may be categorized as more than one thing.
When viewing this summary, don't jump to conclusions! Things that are negative for one person may be positive for another, and vice versa. It's important to read references carefully and evaluate what that information means to you. References (30)30Positive 0Neutral 0Negative
11From Hosts 17From Surfers 1Traveling
 From Pam and Don Amero Winnipeg, Canada
Sep 27, 2011  Positive We were so relieved to arrive at Devin & Laurel's...a home away from home on a long trip. We were welcomed with a delicious supper, good conversation, many ideas and hints of where to go followed by a relaxing time watching The Daily Show & Colbert Report (our fav shows!) and a fabulous bed. Thanks for a welcome reprieve from campgrounds! We look forward to seeing you in Winnipeg one day!
 From ZAZANDCO Grenoble, France
Sep 12, 2011 Positive Very nice family, close together, opened to discover the place where they surf , and to learn from their host with authenticity, while sharing a lot about their home country or huge travel experience. We had a great pleasant time together !
 From Suzie W Shanghai, China
Jan 30, 2011 Positive A true American experience. Devin helped us to stay in Payson school one day interacting with kids for their questions of China in their Choir room.
give us a true feeling of real American kids, they are simply wonderful. Devin and Ryland spent half day guiding us hiking and rock climbing in Traveline. Laurel and Devin cooked one Yankee potroast meal for Lindsey's birthday, and we are simply too lucky to be there with their parents and kids. My son loves Ryland, and said I was too touched when Ryland gave one puzzle jet to him. My daugher also spent a lot time with Lindsey and both kids love their dogs. and our talking topic is everywhere and never ending.. lets see you guys soon in Shanghai and continue our talking...
thanks and thanks and a million thanks.
 From Floriane Dénarié Gap, France
Jan 14, 2011 Positive thank you for this great stay, I enjoyed hanging out with your nice family and have dinner with your friends.
I loved talking about travels, cooking, politics, education and biking! Thank you for the anniversary Souffle!
floriane
I made it to Safford but the goatheads hit again. I am getting metal tubes today...
 From Matej Sudor Bratislava, Slovakia
Jan 3, 2011 Positive Devin with his family are great people who hosted me for almost a week, because there was an intensive snow storm during these days in Payson and I couldn`t proceed on my bike further. I was lucky to find these guys at last minute just before Payson. I was very comfortable with them. They are friendly, open minded people who traveled a lot, they are very hospitable, simply great family. They helped me in any way I needed. I would definitely reccomend them as hosts and as guests too.
From Nick and Gabrielle Yacoumis Gawler, Australia
Aug 5, 2010  Positive We loved having the Walas stay with us.They settled in very quickly...they are well travelled.The children were absolutely fantastic to be around.They are a very positive family who also could cook up a storm.
 From NICOLEW Menzies Creek, Australia
Jul 13, 2010 Positive I had the pleasure to meet Devin and Laurel and their kids, whilst they were CS with Tiffany and Dave in Selby...they were the "perfect" first time couchsurfing guests for Tiffany and her lovely family. We all enjoyed a wonderful evening of wine and cheese and chat...would love to stay in touch and explore the possibility of one day surfing their couch in the fabulous state of Arizona...best wishes for your on going travels and adventures...Nicole :-)
From Tiffany Bray Perth, Australia
Jul 12, 2010 Positive We recently had the pleasure of hosting this relaxed and fun loving family and were really sad to see them go! We all bonded instantly and spent our days sight seeing, hiking and chatting like old friends (and of course eating and drinking!) Ryland and Lindsey are very polite and easy going children who are already missed by Jacinta and Lachie! Devin and Laurel are very generous and giving people who love to immerse themselves in a new culture and they set a very high standard for all future C.S who choose to stay with us in Selby! Devin and Laurel.. Thanks for sharing all your previous adventures with us and we really look forward to catching up again soon! (By the way....your root beer's are waiting for you in our fridge so you need to hurry back! Tiffxx
 From Lucana Perez Tobon Medellin, Colombia
May 9, 2010 Positive The Wala Family: Devin, Laurel, Ryland and Lindsey, are really a lovely family. I felt quite at home with them. Sharing with them a few days was just very peaceful and helped me a lot. A very nice place they have and Lindsey and Ryland are very special and respectful. Thank you.
 From Brian Stark Scottsdale, United States
Apr 26, 2010 Positive This is an incredible family and I feel very fortunate to have stayed with them for my first couch surfing experience. Very generous with their time, company, food, and home. We expected just to come and go, but really enjoyed sharing meals and getting to know them. They are all just delightful -- we learned a lot from them and hope to emulate their generosity and openness. We were particularly impressed with their children, who were very mature and courteous.
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Family Welcome Group
Families - with teenagers ,-)
