Couch Surfing
Picture this: you go online to check your e-mail, and find a message from a total stranger. He lives in another city—better yet, a foreign country. He’s coming to the U.S. in a few weeks and plans on spending time in Savannah. He’d really like to save some money on hotels—plus, everyone knows it’s always preferable to have a friendly local show you around a new town. With that in mind, he heard you might have a couch or a spare bed available. Could he crash with you for a couple of days?
What would you do in a situation like this? Chuckle? Hit delete and forget about it? Recalibrate the Spam Filter on your Gmail? Well, if you’re one of almost 100 adventurous folks in our fair city, you’d actually take a few minutes to do a cursory check on the stranger’s background, and based on that information might seriously consider saying yes and setting a time to meet. No, this is not a story pitch for a low-budget slasher film, nor is it a setup for the sordid tale of — in the words of songwriter Neil Young — a “mindless drifter on the road, carrying a heavy load.” Rather, it’s a cut-to-the-chase description of a common occurrence in the lives of the CouchSurfing International community, a feverishly expanding worldwide network of easygoing travelers and hosts banding together to provide safe, completely free lodging with an emphasis on shared experiences, bridging socio-political gaps and encouraging lasting friendships. With almost 2.5 million members spanning across 245 countries and territories, CouchSurfing is increasingly becoming the preferred method of seeing the world — both near and far from one’s home. “I love traveling,” explains Erin Brinton, “and CouchSurfing is a phenomenal way to meet locals, explore places I otherwise would not see, and experience life.” Brinton was researching places to stay in Costa Rica when she stumbled across CouchSurfing.org (the nonprofit’s official website) in spring 2009. She registered online and a mere two weeks later stayed for free in a private Costa Rican home. Since then, she’s traveled throughout the USA and to four other countries — CouchSurfing all the way. When asked for any positive anecdotes from her experiences as either a surfer or a host (she’s been both), Brinton practically gushes. “There have been millions! In Costa Rica, I was the first guest in my host’s new swimming pool. In Cusco, Peru, my host was an excellent tour guide and became a good friend who taught me Spanish! I went to Bar Internacional in Monterrey, Mexico, where we danced all night. As a host, I’ve seen most of what Savannah has to offer with my surfers. My German ‘CSers’ were shocked that we could drive through Bonaventure Cemetery, and loved kayaking, while the Australians really enjoyed Tybee Island. I always like to try the [native] food wherever I go, and CouchSurfing with locals is a great way to find things you might not otherwise eat.” Truth be told, every single active CSer I have spoken with was just as quick and enthusiastic to express their love and support for this movement — mostly for the same basic reasons. Summer Teal Simpson had plenty of prior experience traveling abroad on extended private “homestays,” but was unfamiliar with the more standardized system that CouchSurfing Intl. has developed for bringing together hosts and those in need of a safe and welcoming place to rest.
Images by Josh Branstetter
