The Greatest Cover Letter of all Time

Hey Brian,

I wanted to make this brief but I want to just tell you a little story about my experience with Airbnb.

I always wanted to travel ever since I was a kid, and couldn't for some personal reasons until I turned 19. My passport arrived in the mail of my second year in University during exams, and I remember I set it out on the table - constantly looking at it with pride, joy, mostly joy.

A photo I took in Paros Greece, my love for travel continued…

On the day of my last final, I packed up everything, put my clothes in a backpack, and hopped on a train in Toronto bound to New York.

The train ride was awesome. Much longer than I thought it would be, making its way through New York State - but good thing! I didn't have a place to stay as a naive, over excited kid.

On the way there, I remember having wifi, and downloading airbnb. Wait what!! You can just chat with people, and stay on their couch? Back then (as I remember it), you literally stayed on people's extra couches! I loved that. So I was excitedly, but full of fear, talking back and forth with this wonderful couple named Dori and Stefan.

"Guys, I'm on my way to New York, I have no place to stay"

'Shayan, we'd love to help but Dori is packing up to travel tomorrow, I'm sorry but we can't'

"You don't understand, I'm literally on the Train!"

'Okay, here's my phone number, let's chat offline'

Another wonderful sunset in Greece

Ya I'm admitting to the CEO of airbnb that we talked off the platform! But trust me it gets better.

So very late at night, in Manhattan, a cop with a thick accent gives me directions to Astoria Queens NY - how cool!

I get there, and kind Sebastian is waiting for me. We walk to his little apartment, possibly the most cozy place in the entire city. They show me my couch, with a clean blanket on top. It was late, so after seeing the bathroom, I got ready for bed.

The next day, indeed Dori left on her trip, and Sebastian and I enjoyed the city together. It was the first time I'd been in New York, so he took me to a Park and said: "Shayan, I love people watching here. Look at that guy. Running! To chill out at his yoga class." we both laughed.

Later on, we walked to a record store, and I asked him what he did for a living.

"I'm LCD Soundsystems' (James Murphy)'s assistant"

My jaw dropped. I didn't even know who that was. Years later, they would become one of my favorite artists; Daft Punk is playing at who's house!!!?

Me in Monaco with some friends I made from Quebec

I also walked around New York alone. Even meeting Donald Trump! For a split second in 2013, my life was absolutely incredible.

On the last day before I left, Stefan and I made sure to set up our Airbnb profiles properly, pay through the site, so we could give each other reviews. This helped me in my later travels, and Stefan was able to host more guests - thank God, this was a Biblical experience after all!

Airbnb went on to wild incredible success. I went on to travel to 32 countries, and staying at Airbnbs with my best friends in Bali, renting an entire house with a pool.

Many many memories later, and I'm now applying for a job on your team.

Thanks Brian,

Shayan