Unexpected but funny situations :)

by Sandrine
(Lausanne, Switzerland)

I have lots of great stories to tell about homestay and Couchsurfing. This is definitely my favorite way to travel. Getting to know local people, sharing a few hours of their lives, visiting places out of the beaten tracks... People are usually so happy to show you their culture. You quickly realize the world is full of extremely generous and big hearted people.

Here are a few examples of my experiences:
In Australia, while I had planned to just visit some countryside with my Couchsurfing host, I unexpectedly got to learn how to ride a horse to bring the cows back to their field! I had no idea my host would offer me such an experience, and that was so much fun!

In Hong Kong, I stayed with some people I had met by traveling. They made me feel at home and brought me to many places where only locals go. We had lunches and dinners in restaurants you would never dare to enter if you don't know... the food was so delicious and cheap! We also exchanged some language lessons. A funny story: when you take the local bus, there is no bus stations and you have to ask the driver to get off. So, to be able going back "home", they taught me how to say in cantonese "please stop at the next round-about", but it took me a few attempts before the driver could understand :) We are now friends for life and they actually just came here in Switzerland, staying at my place and sharing some swiss experience!

In Jakarta, I met a couchsurfer for a drink, when she suddenly decided to bring me to her parents house. I couldn't imagine what to expect. It was actually the first night of the fasting period... I met the whole family and we had such a feast! then we went to the mosque, so I had to dress up like them... except I didn't know how to wear that "costume"; we laughed a lot with her sisters and friends, and shared a precious moment.

OK, I stop here! Just to let you know, it is such rich experience, there is no way for me to try again some "organized holidays", hotel clubs or whatever. The real world is too beautiful to be missed.