|
COACHSERFING
|
|
| Asiya | Date: Wednesday, 27.10.2010, 00:59 | Message # 1 |
 Sergeant
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 24
Status: Offline
| This tread have to be in Topic '' Media Traveling'', but doesn't matter) I don't know how to move it from here:) What is CouchSurfing?
CouchSurfing is an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals in over 230 countries and territories around the world. Members have been using our system to come together for cultural exchange, friendship, and learning experiences. Today, over a million people who might otherwise never meet are able to share hospitality and cultural understanding. Our mission as an organization is to create inspiring experiences: cross-cultural encounters that are fun, engaging, and illuminating. These experiences take many forms. CouchSurfing's initial focus was on hosting and "surfing" (staying with a local as a guest in their home). Alongside these core experiences, we now also facilitate a growing array of activities and events. We have a vision of a world where everyone can explore and create meaningful connections with the people and places they encounter. Each CouchSurfing experience shared by our members brings us closer to that vision. How does CouchSurfing work?
CouchSurfing members share hospitality with one another. These exchanges are a uniquely rich form of cultural interaction. Hosts have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world without leaving home. "Surfers," or travelers, are able to participate in the local life of the places they visit. We also give more people the chance to become travelers, because "surfing" lowers the financial cost of exploration. The CouchSurfing community continues to expand its horizons. Members are always finding more ways to connect and learn about each other. Every day, people across the world share coffee, camping trips, meetings, language exchanges, discussions and all sorts of other experiences. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THIS? DO U TRUST? AND CAN YOU ''SHARE YOUR SOFA'' WITH UNKNOWN PEOPLE? DO U HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE? HAVE U EVER ''COACHSERF''? Or maybe u re planning to do that..)
Message edited by Asiya - Wednesday, 27.10.2010, 01:02 |
| |
| |
| Dmitri | Date: Wednesday, 27.10.2010, 12:43 | Message # 2 |
|
Sergeant
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 21
Status: Offline
| My friend's acquaintances did it, they travelled to the USA and England. They stayed at different people's places and learned about the country and its culture. And apparently they liked it. There's no reason not to trust it, because people who take part in it are usually very easy-going, cosmopolitan, and interesting. Also, it's better to explore the country with the help of a native person.
|
| |
| |
| Viskas | Date: Thursday, 28.10.2010, 22:13 | Message # 3 |
 Private
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 6
Status: Offline
| Mmm..Seeping in a stranger’s apartments for no other reason then you both happen to be members of CouchSurfing? It's strange...Should I expect to spend the entire weekend with my hosts Do I need to bring some sort of present? What do I do if they turn out to be creepy? I have a lot of questions about it..No, i think it's a good idea to save money fo those who don't have it, but it always depends..If i ever go ''coachserf'' I want to know ALL information about my host. Who are they? Can I trust them etc
|
| |
| |
| Asiya | Date: Thursday, 28.10.2010, 22:19 | Message # 4 |
|
Sergeant
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 24
Status: Offline
| Dmitri, I absolutly agree with you that it's better to explore the country with the help of a native person!
Viskas, Baby, why do you think that if person couchserf it means that he doesn't have money?? It's not true! For some people are important not only to travel and stay in the expensive hotels, but to get some knowlege about culture and traditions, meet with people all over the world, speak their language! It's even more important than just the idea to save money.
|
| |
| |
| Ritochka | Date: Thursday, 28.10.2010, 22:34 | Message # 5 |
 Private
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 7
Status: Offline
| ''Yeah, I know about coachserfing, I've heard about it before, it's a website where you can offer your couch for any world traveller.
But I think it's dangerous..Really I can’t trust people who I don’t know, so how can I stay in apartment of unknown person? I can’t never fell myself comfortable! If I go abroad I want to hang out until midnight, how can I do it if I bother my roommates. No, this is exactly not for me. I prefer stay in hotels even if I spent more money. Saving money is good, but I think u won’t have a great trip.''
|
| |
| |
| Viskas | Date: Thursday, 28.10.2010, 22:41 | Message # 6 |
|
Private
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 6
Status: Offline
| Asiya, i understand everything, but I agree with Rita. For example I can't host people in my own house if I don;t know them. It's not safe. He can be a robber or murder)) It's joke, but I really don't trust..How I can be sure that everything's gonna be alright?!
|
| |
| |
| Asiya | Date: Thursday, 28.10.2010, 22:54 | Message # 7 |
|
Sergeant
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 24
Status: Offline
| Girls, why are u so suspisios?))  Okey, now I'm gonna tell you my story. A few weeks ago I hosted one man from Barselona. It was a really great experience! I showed him our local landmarks, we were near lake Baikal, it was amazing! I practise my English with him and even Spanish) It was my first experiens in coachserfing, of course my family weren't happy that in our apartment is going to live man from Spain, but I had a talk with them and they were agree) He spent only one night with us, and 2 days we were talking and talking without pause)) Suddenly my mom really likes him and he also likes my family. And now we're thinking about going to Barselona next summer and stay in Ramon's apartment(he invited us), And we keep in touch with him every time in Facebook.
So that's the problems??)) I'm a big fan of couchserfing)) 
|
| |
| |
| Ritochka | Date: Thursday, 28.10.2010, 23:12 | Message # 8 |
|
Private
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 7
Status: Offline
| Good for you)) But you see it depends.. I’ve heard about it many stories and somebody told me, that one time we experienced coachserfing and it was awful. He went to Paris(how I can remember) and stayed in one-room apartment with some guy(who was his host). And he slept on a dirty, bad smelling sofa. In the morning he wanted wake up early, but his host close the door and forgot to give him a key from apartment. And he was sitting in apartment until evening, because he didn’t have a cellphone to call him back!
And actually there has been a lot of debate recently about couchsurfing being bad for the tourism industry, and unsafe.Added (28.10.2010, 23:12)
---------------------------------------------
|
| |
| |
| Asiya | Date: Thursday, 28.10.2010, 23:17 | Message # 9 |
|
Sergeant
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 24
Status: Offline
| Ahaha)) This is a very sad story
It takes some explaining to convey that no, you can tell a great deal about the person by their profile and the references they have on it, thanks to the superb quality (not perfect, but superb nonetheless) of couchsurfing.com
I turned down a guy who was from Greece, who had no pics on his profile, no references, and even though he had 35 "friends" he had not met any of them in person. He simply said he wanted to sleep at my place and told me nothing about why. So IT DEPENDS again and again!!
|
| |
| |
| Viskas | Date: Thursday, 28.10.2010, 23:41 | Message # 10 |
|
Private
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 6
Status: Offline
| I liked both of your stories:) I have a good friend down the street who hosted a guy and he basically moved in and didn't leave for 2 weeks. My friend is simply too nice and couldn't bear to kick him out until his girlfriend threatened to leave him if he didn't ...Great) It was kind of a new member of a family))
|
| |
| |
| Asiya | Date: Thursday, 28.10.2010, 23:55 | Message # 11 |
|
Sergeant
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 24
Status: Offline
| I've already understood that u do not trust to host unknown persoin in ur hommie, but u can played the role as the local guide to them, practise ur English skills, know more about different cultures, even helped them out to bargain the price if any of them just wanted to buy something. They could have the reasonable price if they have some local with. And most of them are awesome.
Really I suggest you to try it one time 
u r gonna like it 
|
| |
| |
| Ritochka | Date: Friday, 29.10.2010, 00:05 | Message # 12 |
|
Private
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 7
Status: Offline
| Yes, this is a great idea. I will met someone just to hang out in my city with a great pleasure! But I’m not going to host them. Know knows ..in case I really like him I will think about it) In additional it’s good because the first thing that your friends and relatives usually say when they hear you host perfect strangers in your home is "O my God! What if they rob, rape or kill you?" So this’s a good solution 
|
| |
| |
| Dett | Date: Friday, 29.10.2010, 00:22 | Message # 13 |
 Private
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 5
Status: Offline
| The idea is as simple as it is ingenious - people from all over the world come together in an online network to offer accommodation on their sofas to others. In return, they can spend time abroad on a couch anywhere around the globe. So what can I say - IT'S JUST GREA!!))))
|
| |
| |
| Asiya | Date: Friday, 29.10.2010, 00:22 | Message # 14 |
|
Sergeant
Group: Пользователи
Messages: 24
Status: Offline
| Finally we made a decision:) I'm looking forward to see u on coachserfing.com 
Find me there, bro)) 
|
| |
| |
