CouchSurfing

Well I have just had my first experience of CouchSurfing. What is it you may well ask?

From their website, "CouchSurfing is a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit". What this simply means is that you join Couch Surfing via their website, offering your services to a fellow traveller, either as a host (providing a bed) or a guide or just to meet for a drink. The other side is that once registered, you are also able to access the offers from other CouchSurfers from all over the world.

A Dutch guy has just spent 2 nights staying with me after making contact through CouchSurfing. On the first evening I took him on a brief sightseeing tour of Rabat - tour Hassan, the Oudayas and the medina, finishing off with dinner at El Bahia, a Moroccan restaurant in the medina walls, where he paid for the meal. As the host provides a bed, it is encouraged that the visiting CouchSurfer pays for a meal for the host.

Initially I was not sure of the security of the situation, letting a strange person into the apartment. But as he head, you can sum up most people in the first 5 minutes of meeting them. With an initial meeting outside the house, there is still an opportunity to pull out if you feel uncomfortable. Checking out the person's details on the website also provides a wealth of information as people who register are encouraged to fill out biographical, interests and philosophy of life information.

The whole CouchSurfing experience provides an opportunity to mix with travellers, learn about other cultures, share what you know of you local area and promote cross-cultural awareness.

After this interesting experience, I would certainly host others, and if the situation arises I would also make use of it when travelling myself.