Experience Culture through a Couch
To travel is merely not about boarding a plane, riding a train, or hailing a local bus. For travelers, going someplace new is all about learning cultures and bridging connections. It’s all about the experience and the chance to know more about what is foreign to you.
In this experience, many factors are to consider – one is the place you are about to step foot and the vicinity you are about to emerge yourself in. People may not realize it but one’s home away from home plays a huge part when it comes to the experience of going away. Do you book a five star hotel? Do you rent an apartment? Or do you prefer a small cottage to reside in? This is definitely a decision one should consider along with other factors like location, budget, and facility. Finding a place to stay in may sound easy yet with these, it may not always appear to be.
But in 2004, a group of students from Iceland gave birth to the idea of sharing homes to strangers through Couchsurfing. What started as a small group has now become a global community of people who offers to share their room, a bed, or even a couch to travelers from around the world. Not everyone may be open to the idea of welcoming a stranger inside their home but with this growing community of Couchsurfing, people all from all over the world has started to open their doors to the idea that lets one immerse his or herself to a variety of cultures and friendship.
Couchsurfing may still be new in the Philippines but it is nice to know that many Filipinos have already tried this enriching part of traveling. Just like Aleah Taboclaon who we met through her travel blog Solitary Wanderer – a freelance writer and editor, Aleah has crossed many countries by being a backpacker and a couchsurfer. Aside from saving money, these have also made Aleah’s trips more educational and memorable. From Asia to Europe, Aleah has been open to the idea of Couchsurfing and she invites more travelers to do it.
Let us know more about Couchsurfing and Aleah in this interview below. Who knows, you might just be couchsurfing in your next travel destination.
Please tell us a little something about yourself – what do you do for a living? What are your interests?
I am a graduate of Psychology from the University of the Philippines. After working for over eight years counseling abused women and children, I decided to take a break. I became a freelance writer and editor in 2011 and it was a decision I had never regretted. As a freelancer, I could travel as much as I wanted to and still earn money. It was due to Couchsurfing and my freelancing jobs that I was able to backpack solo in Europe for almost three months last year.
How did you find out about Couchsurfing?
I read about Couchsurfing in an article in Reader’s Digest in 2006 and I thought it was a really cool idea. It wasn’t until 2007, though, that I signed up and hosted my first surfer, an American who had been traveling around the world for over two years. We kept in touch until early this year and I count him as my oldest CS friend.
Couchsurfing could be dangerous, but why did you decide to still try it out?
Going out of your house can be dangerous too, but it doesn’t stop you from leaving the comforts of your home, right? There are risks in CS, of course, but if you know how to address those risks, there’s no need to be afraid. If you do your due diligence in looking for hosts/accepting surfers, everything should be fine.
With my host in Hamburg, Germany.
What places have you visited and tried Couchsurfing?
I have surfed all over Asia and Europe: Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines (of course), and Vietnam.
Favorite Couchsurfing experience?
I have a lot of memorable CS experiences. One in particular was in Hungary — a few days before I was to arrive in Budapest, my host emailed me and told me that her mother had died and she had to go to the countryside. Of course, as she lived alone, I expected her to tell me that I should look for another host. I was very surprised then when she told me I could still stay in her house — even if she was not there! She gave the key to a friend of hers who met me at the train station and I went to her house all by myself. Talk about trust!
Another favorite was my couch in Padova, Italy. I slept in an air mattress in a big bedroom together with three Pakistani guys (we all had separate beds, the room was that big.) And one night, I cooked spaghetti for them using the Ligo spicy sardines I had been carrying with me for weeks. They loved it!
Still another favorite was my couch in Florence. My host was this Italian guy who lived alone in a 15th century house. I slept in the room which used to be their dining room; it was huge, complete with a chandelier, oil paintings of ancestors, and big ancient mirrors. Best of all, he had a black cat who insisted on always sleeping beside me and who had to be tickled awake in the mornings.
Can you please tell us something about the Couchsurfing community in the Philippines? Have you made good friends with the members? How is the community as a whole?
The CS community in the Philippines is huge! There are thousands of members just in Metro Manila alone, especially since CS has been promoted in the media. I’ve made a lot of friends from the early years (before 2010) but I haven’t been very active in the meet-ups in the past few years since I moved to the boondocks (Montalban). I do try to attend an event at least once a year, though.
In the courtyard of the 15th century house in Florence.
Tips for first-time Couchsurfers?
References are very importantso if you’re hosting/surfing, make sure to read the feedback left by previous hosts/surfers. If you’re a woman traveling solo, this is of utmost importance since your safety and security should be of primary importance.
As a guest, don’t expect to be waited upon. Clean up after yourself, volunteer to wash the dishes or look after their kids (in Athens, I volunteered to walk my host’s dog daily.) It would be nice as well to bring them something from your country. I always bring ref magnets or some locally-made product (I brought a bottle of Tanduay once to my hosts in Belgium.)
If you’re staying for more than two nights, also offer to cook or treat your hosts to a meal. Your hosts wouldn’t expect it but they would appreciate the thought. When I go back to the Philippines, I also send my hosts a postcard thanking them again for their hospitality.
Finally, remember that Couchsurfing is not about the free stay. You go to CS because you value interaction with the locals, not because you want a free ride. If you don’t want to talk to your hosts, better go to a hostel instead.
Make a friend and see the world by joining the global community of Couchsurfing here
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