A method for using an optical frequency domain reflectometry, OFDR, system (18, 21) for aligning a sensing multicore optical fiber with an interrogating multicore optical fiber and for carrying out distributed strain sensing, the sensing multicore optical fiber comprising an off-center sensing core (B, C, D) paired with an off-center interrogating core (B, C, D) in the interrogating multicore optical fiber to form an off-center core pair, the method comprising: placing the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber for abutment of connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber; using the OFDR system to interferometrically interrogate the off-center core pair through the off-center interrogating core and to determine a first reflection value from the off-center sensing core, wherein the first reflection value represents a degree of alignment for the off-center core pair in a first relative orientation between the connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber; using the OFDR system to interferometrically interrogate the off-center core pair through the off-center interrogating core and to determine a second reflection value from the off-center sensing core, wherein the second reflection value represents a degree of alignment for the off-center core pair in a second relative orientation between the connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber; identifying an alignment orientation for the connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber based on the first reflection value and the second reflection value; adjusting a relative orientation between the connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber to the alignment orientation; connecting the sensing multicore optical fiber to the interrogating multicore optical fiber in the alignment orientation; and using the OFDR system to interrogate the off-center core pair through the off-center interrogating core and to measure reflected light from the off-center sensing core when the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber are aligned and connected, and processing the reflected light for distributed strain sensing. placing the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber for abutment of connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber; using the OFDR system to interferometrically interrogate the off-center core pair through the off-center interrogating core and to determine a first reflection value from the off-center sensing core, wherein the first reflection value represents a degree of alignment for the off-center core pair in a first relative orientation between the connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber; using the OFDR system to interferometrically interrogate the off-center core pair through the off-center interrogating core and to determine a second reflection value from the off-center sensing core, wherein the second reflection value represents a degree of alignment for the off-center core pair in a second relative orientation between the connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber; identifying an alignment orientation for the connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber based on the first reflection value and the second reflection value; adjusting a relative orientation between the connecting ends of the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber to the alignment orientation; connecting the sensing multicore optical fiber to the interrogating multicore optical fiber in the alignment orientation; and using the OFDR system to interrogate the off-center core pair through the off-center interrogating core and to measure reflected light from the off-center sensing core when the sensing multicore optical fiber and the interrogating multicore optical fiber are aligned and connected, and processing the reflected light for distributed strain sensing.