Tips for first time couch surfers
Thu 22 Oct 2009
I frequently get messages from first time couch surfers requesting some couch-sailing :) Its nice to receive these requests and there is a certain amount of honour and responsibility in hosting for the first time.
I seldom take on this responsibility as I have so many people with excellent references who have hosted others and been vouched for. This makes it hard to fit in the first timers. Cripes, these days I am so flattered to have people planning their trips to Australia based around staying with me! I should be so lucky.
There is also the fact that newbies sometimes don't understand the culture of couch surfing. I have had examples where there the gap betweeen taking and giving is distant, where the guests head to town to drink heavily and view my place as somewhere to sleep through the hangover. There is also the problem when the guests don't engage in cultural exchange or worse still ignore the host and talk amongst themselves in their own language.
These problems aside, I personally have to watch out that I am not going to have my reputation tarnished with accusations of goodness knows what from people with ill placed intentions... and the reference system is a great way to get a feel for the real people and potential trouble makers... Referenced people can be trusted more, simple.
A final concern is that people might come to expect every couch to be like mine... I do go out of the way to show people my home, my backyard (the Whitsundays) and teach them some sailing. I am pretty sure that my couch is something out of the ordinary and as such first timers are going to get the wrong impression about the "norm" with CS.
Anyway that aside lets write up some things that can help first timers.
1. Write a complete reference, in the target language. Don't worry if your skills in that language are not that good - at least you are trying and the little mistakes are often funny.
2. Load some fun photos. Show a sense of humour or fun in your pictures to ensure that the hosts think you are going to be good fun to have around.
3. Have an opinion. In the interests section, take the opportunity to make a stand on your favourite subject for better connection with potential hosts that think the same way as you.
4. Make a donation, or start the "verify" process. Even if you are on the road, you can get the postcard sent to your parents to get the verification code. The reason for this is that you get a extra icon / badge on your profile to say that you have financial contributed to CS. I don't know about other hosts, but I count this as important. The CS web site would cost heaps to create and run - and their funding is donation based!
5. Get ready to make an effort. I have already blogged about "being a good guest", you can find that story separately. Your early references will be important, so make sure you put in a huge effort to impress your early hosts!
6. Get vouched for. Once you get rolling with CS, you will connect with hosts as friends. If they are prepared to vouch for you (don't ask - its not polite), then great, you have an extra tick on the list. Once you are vouched for 3 times, you can then vouch for others.... and that is something you can use to reward hosts that become friends.
Finally, have fun. CS is a great way to connect with locals. Whether hosting or travelling, I have had the most amazing experiences. To travel with CS, you get to be part of people's lives even more so than reality TV - you get to experience the world through people, and for mine that is better than "self-portrait" photos in front of world icons any day.
