I decided to write one post purely about couchsurfing mostly as result of discussions in forums and my most negative experience.
I joined this website two and half years ago when i was doing my erasmus in Tartu, Estonia. I was introduced to couchsurfing by one very stereotypical american girl, who talked about surfing and hosting with such enthusiasm that i decided to give it a try. But first time i actually used was few months later when i went to Czech republic for a week (i had money left after my erasmus and wanted to spend it travelling somewhere more far than neighbouring countries). Well second time surfing was extremely weird. I was in Prague and stayed with guy who answered emergency request. I know it was stupid not to send normal requests beforehead but in my defense i can say that i was very new and didn't get concept of cs back then. Good talked too much for my liking (basically all the time), kept asking questions and simply stuck like wet leaf to naked ass. I like interacting with host, but i'm unable to speak constantly for few hours, especially about topics i have no interest in. When it was time to rest, i had to watch movie 'Devil wears Prada" with him in his room. he inssited that i would sit on his bed but i pretended to give myself foot massage after long day walking. When i was finally set free, he asked if i want to sleep in his bed, on floor or on sofa. I chose sofa. After i asked him to use his laptop to check some stuff, i discovered he had fake profile with photos and name of some vietnamese girl. When i woke up, i saw him watching me. Damn, that was somne crazy stuff. I was happy to get rid of him in the morning but had to return as i left some clothes in his apartment. If i wouln't have been so new, he probably would have one negative reference more (he has two already).
Another weird experience was when i hosted myself. I did it two times and both were not so pleasurable. First guests, couple from Latvia, acted like i was free hotel - no interest in hanging out together, came only for one night, kept talking in latvian. I left posite reference only because they did it first. Second was polish girl who sucked at basically everything she did. I left no reference for her and she left none for me. I feel that i had too much patience with her. First, i had to walk for half and hour home as she got wrong trolley, although i wrote correct one, and we missed last trolley. Then nex day i had to skip concert as she insisted she would come back from city to take phone charger. And managed to get wrong trolley to wrong direction again. She was unable to plan her time and wasted mine. Never said 'thanks' and well, i guess i was wrong accepting her.
Next bad experience was one i already wrote about - liar host with lack of social skills. Otherewise i just try to learn something from expriences i don't entirely like. Sometimes there's clash of opinions in forums. Sometimes people just are too stupid to read whhat's written - one time i asked question in forum - what reference one would write if experience is very negative - negative or neutral one. One guy (i agree with negative reference in his profile) just gave me few diagnoses and analysed me and my experience instead of anwering. When i pointed out he didn't answer my question, he just wrote an essay. I deleted topic when i saw it's not going anywhere. Nex time i was called egocentric and freeloader because i answered that don't think about money when i surf/host (question was if it's necessary to pay money for host) and i believe that if host thinks how much surfer cost him, he should not host at all or use AirBnB. Because of that guy analysed me and my profile. I think that person does that when he has zero arguments to prove his opinion and looks for opponent's personal faults. I just didn't answer. I like lithuanian saying "duok durniui kelią" (give idiot free way) so i liesten to it quite often. Then it gives me satisfaction as i feel smart and as a winner of argument.
I still think that couchsurfing should be about cultural exange, not money or travelling for free. And i don't feel as worse couchsurfer just because i am unable to host right now and in close future. Partly my expriences are like that because of my sarcastic 'no bullshit' personality and saying what i'm thinking, partly because some people just has different idea of it or are too stupid to read what's written. Some has mostly positive experinces. One amazing guy i met just before hitchgathering in Lithuania learns from any exprience. I think it depends on person. and country one is from. I noticed that in expensive cities and tourist destinantions, for example Copenhagen, Norway, Australia people think about money all the time but instead of using air BnB contantly brags in forums about 'freeloaders' surfers. Also there are some cultural differences. For example, i would never give copy of my document to anybody i don't know. For me it's the sign that somebody don't trust me. For others - perfectly normal procedure. I learned a lot from mine and i'm happy i joined page as i during two years i met so many great people in Vilnius couchsurfing comunity, travelled, met some great people during my trips and simply shared expriences. And human interaction, good or bad, always gives something to stay.
