Couchsurfing

Recently, Jeremy and I joined a website called couchsurfing.com. Basically, you fill out a bunch of information about yourself, put up some pictures, and post your 'profile' online. Then, 100's of thousands of other members from around the world have access to your profile. So, if Jeremy and I wanted to travel to Iceland, we would do a search for profiles of people in Iceland. The profiles are specific as to how many people can stay, what they want to provide, and so on. So, once we choose a 'couch', we submit a request, and wait to see if we are welcome on their couch at that time. The website is free, and it's based on trust. The more people you let stay with you and that you stay with, the higher trust with you is. Because, every time you let people stay with you, you fill out a reference, and so do they. Same as if you stay with other people. All of that information is accessible for the other people on the website. We think it's a great way to meet people from around the world, experience other cultures, and promote the pay it forward slogan.

In November, we had three couchsurfers come to stay with us, Triston from Australia, Georg from Austia, and Chi Kin from Hong Kong. Each one was completely different, and all of the experiences were positive. Triston was here for only two nights and we did what we could to cram in as much of Tokyo into that time as possible. Georg was here to visit his girlfriend and to travel all around Japan, staying with many other couchsurfers, and Chi Kin is still here, and traveling around Japan.

I am so glad that we joined this group. You may say that it's crazy to let people stay with you whom you don't know, but I think it's crazy to just assume that everyone on this planet is bad. It's ignorance to a certain level, but also it's faith. I think it'll be great when Jeremy and I decide to go to Europe and backpack. We can stay on other peoples couches and experience their countries in a more native style. When you stay in hotels, you don't get the true experience. This is kind of like a free homestay program. The only price you pay is in the gifts you choose to bring for the person opening up their home to you. It's priceless.