This post is dedicated to the people of the couchsurfing community who not only took the time to provide us accommodation, but also took the time to welcome us into their lives and just be there for us when we were lost. At times, traveling can be a lonely experience (even as a couple), but it only took a glance at our CS host album to conjure up the memories that put the smile back on our face and the stride back in our step once again. We are unable to put into words exactly how grateful we feel for every single moment and we know that our experiences would not have been half as interesting, amazing, or fun without your kindnesses along the way.
From you, we learned how to make roti, tortilla and egg breakfast, mate, chicken marsala, arepas, homemade hamburger buns, green fettuccine, and Greek salad. We learned how to toast correctly, greet politely (one kiss or two according to region), and travel safely. We learned the importance of slicing cheese at the right angle, buying bread from the bakery on a specific street because the lady is nicer, and ordering skepasti from the restaurant nearby because it’s the best. We were happy to drink at the hole-in-the-wall pubs with the cheapest beers on tap, eat flavorful cuisine at local hangouts, inhale fruity-smelling shisha smoke at shisha cafes, sip bitter Turkish coffee on floor cushions, and lick fingers after partaking in greasy street food.
From you, we learned about your frustrations with or your loyalty to your government, your interest in your nation’s history and how it shaped you, and your passion to advocate change and make a difference inside or outside of your country. From you, we learned to step outside of our comfort zone and consider travel to regions we would never have glanced at, we hitchhiked, tried eye tacos, and (despite her fear of flying) Deenaree’s actually entertained the idea of sky-diving. We learned to view our own country with a newfound appreciation because of your documentary on your small-town U.S. road trip or because of the book you are writing based on your quest to trace your family history here.
If it wasn’t for your suggestions, we would not have hiked up the Devil’s Molar, or been aware that the Latvian Song and Dance Festival is a great time to catch up on Latvian traditional dress, or known which open-air market to buy the best vegetables, or where to catch the ferry over the Bosphorus, or where to grab some ice cream in Buenos Aires at 11:00 at night. We wouldn’t have known where the best place was to watch the World Cup in Vilnius, or to view ships crossing the Panama Canal, or catch a Tobago sunset on a quiet beach, or see kitsch decor at it’s most appalling in Stellenbosch, or observe Lithuanians madly playing trivia in Klaipeda.
We experienced art on a new level because of your pottery lesson, your ambition to see every movie ever made, your collection of cd’s that range in the THOUSANDS, and your recommendation to read books by a famous Columbian author who happens to be your favorite. Some of you are incredibly talented musicians, photographers, singers, actors, writers, and artists. We thank you for sharing your gifts with us.
We so appreciated your inclusion of us in your family gatherings and friend’s events. We had barely just met, but that didn’t stop you from inviting us to your cousin’s wedding, your birthday celebration, or your family’s dinner table. And although we had barely just met, your willingness to speak openly of your own dreams to travel, pursue additional education, change your career, start a new entrepreneurial venture, or move to another country and begin a new life left us inspired (and some of your biggest fans), too.
We thank you for the opportunity to have had this glimpse into your lives. Our time with you was so valuable to us that we tended to leave wishing for more of it or even for an opportunity to live just a bit closer to you! Thanks again for everything. We hope we can see you soon somewhere in this world. Keep in touch!
Love,
Ben and Deenaree
I loved this post. I hadn’t looked at your website in quite awhile but accidentally clicked on the link when I was trying to look at the picture of you and your baby tummy :) Reading what you read makes me want to couchsurf – think I could get Bob to do it?!?!?!?!