Comments on: CouchSurfing: What’s in it For Me?

By: Is CouchSurfing safe? | Two Go Round-The-World

Is CouchSurfing safe? | Two Go Round-The-World — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:38:05 +0000

[...] blogroll (yet), Graham Woodring provides some interesting perspective on his blog, asking “What’s in it for me?” He [...]

By: Graham

Graham — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 05:20:12 +0000

I think you are completely right. The difference I see between blogs I read and blogs I really enjoy is when you can see the care, love, and passion in each word that’s written. Especially for me, the travel blogs by people who are professional travels or people doing RTW trips are the ones where I can almost feel and connect to their pure love for what they are writing about. How they embrace this lifestyle and advocate it to anyone who is willing to listen is what keeps me coming back.

Yes, most of the time I really do enjoy the act of writing about life and about travel (sometimes it can be a touch slog, though) and I’m glad and a little humbled that you recognize it and appreciate it.

Thank you.

By: Linz

Linz — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:28:35 +0000

Graham – As a writer (it has taken me years to be able to call myself that, but I’m getting used to it these days), I think that what comes through in text the most is how much you care about a subject.

I’ve had many blogs over the years… I’ve been blogging since the days when we bloggers had a rather small community, before teenage angst on YouTube, before the VLOG, etc.

Having just started over at my new blog, I don’t really have many readers… but, I have realized over the years that the person I write for the most is, well, ME. Sometimes I look back on my writing (on the blog or otherwise) and think “Wow, that was impressively mediocre”. But there are times when I’m proud of what I write too. It’s good practice for this wanna-be-author.

Anyway (and you thought YOU rambled!) – I suppose what I’m saying is, the fact that you are enjoying your travels, but also the fact that you are enjoying the act of WRITING about them, is what keeps me coming back to your blog again and again.

Kudos.

By: Graham

Graham — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:24:36 +0000

Thanks Linz! I’m not always too confident with my writing, I tend to ramble a lot. I just tried to get everything out on the table with this one. I think, more or less, that I accomplished that. If you keep reading ‘em, I’ll keep ‘em comin!

By: Linz

Linz — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:53:08 +0000

Extremely well-written, Graham. A pleasurable read as always.

By: Graham

Graham — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:42:31 +0000

@Emily: I’m sure I will continue to have fantastic experiences, thank you.

@Carrie: Hostels and hotels around the world can take a huge chunk out of your budget. CouchSurfing is a great way to alleviate that problem and give you the opportunity to meet locals at the same time. You would be amazed at so many people I’ve met who are too paranoid or skeptical (even expats here in China!) to CouchSurf. All it takes is a small leap of faith.

@Chris: I agree that memories and stories are the greatest rewards of traveling. That people that you meet is always a huge part of traveling, right? I don’t think I would lay down that blanket generalization that if you surf you should host. The fact that there is no obligation whatsoever is what perpetuates the system. Although personally I would feel like I was taking all the marshmallows if I didn’t host. But that springs from my own sense of responsibility and fairness

@Purplestate: ….. no.

By: purplestate

purplestate — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:26:40 +0000

That and teh hawt sexual intercourse, right?

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:42:35 +0000

I do expect something out of either hosting/surfing….memories and stories. Meeting people and listening to their stories and telling your own stories is awesome. It is like getting the best out of a person. They are going to want to tell their BEST stories for the short time you are there. I also think if you surf, you should host as well (if you are able to). Only surfing is like taking all of the marshmallows out of a box of lucky charms and then you are only left with the crappy cereal.

Good stuff Graham! Keep it up, I promise I will post my learning experience from MX today.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:11:12 +0000

I think Couchsurfers is a great way to travel on any kind of budget, but especially if you’re going cheap. I have a lot of admiration for you, Graham. I’ve always wanted to try it, but my husband just isn’t interested. This service wasn’t around when I was traveling solo.

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 18 May 2009 06:25:20 +0000

I saw this in my reader about half an hour after two Australian CSers left for the airport. We also host; we’ve backpacked before, and now that we aren’t able to travel much, we enjoy meeting interesting people from all around the world who are doing what we’ve done. I hope you continue to have positive CS experiences!