(
hype
cushion
cras he rs “Couch surfers” are saving dough when traveling by swapping pricey hotels and inhospitable hostles for the allure of a stranger’s couch.
BY GINA EDWARDS, PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN SOHNER
I
magine letting complete strangers into your home to crash couch surfing from both a traveler and host perspective. in your living room. Weary and weathered with an indus- Ohio University senior Carrie Rumancik couch surfed in trial-sized backpack on their shoulders, they stop at your France after a study abroad session. “I was supposed to backpack around Europe, and I didn’t re-budget until I was in place while traveling. Would your couch be available? It sounds like a typical ethical conundrum—maybe straight France, and I couldn’t afford to do anything that I originally out of a 101 text—but it’s the premise of a global phenom- planned,” Carrie says. Instead of cutting her trip short or going homeless until her enon called Couch Surfing. People from all over the world can log onto the couch surfing Web site, www. couchsurfing.com, create a profile, and become a part of a network spanning 234 countries and over 1.6 million people and counting. The site allows users to register as hosts—those who welcome travelers into their homes—or as travelers looking for a cheap way to travel the globe. The organization was created after cofounder Casey Fenton, then a 22-year-old traveler, e-mailed over 1,500 local students in Iceland asking for a place to stay. He received over 50 offers for accommodation, generosity which sparked the idea for a couch surfing network. Many Ohio University Dan Krauss relaxes on his host’s bed in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco. students have experienced
55
winter | 2010 | backdrop
There are six million parts in the Boeing 747-400.
flight home, Carrie worked on a donkey farm and couchsaid. “I was still nervous the whole time, though.” surfed. She described the encounter with her first host, HéSome travelers, like Emily Glauser, a 2009 OU alum, have lène, as an amazing experience. “She gave up her bed, and even gone one step further and become hosts themselves. “I that’s not a usual couch surfing thing,” Carrie said, adding paid a $25 donation fee to get something called a ‘verified that Hélène cooked delicious French cuisine, took her swimmember status’ that proves that I’m not just some crazy perming in the Mediterranean and helped her resolve a mix-up son,” Emily says. with her train tickets. While hosting surfers OU senior Ryan Boone, gives you the opportunity You have to have an open mind who has couch surfed in to showcase your town, it’s Colorado and West Virginia, and be accepting of everyone, you not for everyone. “You have applauds the program for its to have an open mind and economic practicality and have to be able to tell who you can be accepting of everyone,” social benefits. “Everyone trust and who you can’t.” Ryan says. “You have to be Ryan Boone able to tell who you can trust loves traveling, but the thing that holds them back is the Ohio University senior and who you can’t.” expense,” Ryan says, “It’s As a non-profit organizagreat when you have this tion, couch surfing is comopportunity to go and stay pletely free. Most surfers, somewhere for free.” however, give back to the hosts that have warmly opened No system is without its flaws, and OU travelers mentheir doors—and their pull-out couches. “People don’t really tioned that couch surfing can present a few peculiar probexpect anything out of you, but usually I get them a six pack lems. “You never really get a lot of sleep,” Dan Krauss, a of beer or something,” Ryan says. senior who recently couch surfed through California, says. Couch surfing relationships don’t have to end once the sofa “Some couches are really comfortable and some of them are is folded up. Carrie keeps in touch with Hélène through ereally uncomfortable,” Dan says, “And you better hope the mails, and Ryan knows that he is welcomed back at his West floor you’re sleeping on has carpeting.” Virginian host’s home whenever he needs. “I don’t plan on Being a female traveler, Carrie took safety precautions staying at a hotel ever again,” Ryan says. “There’s no need to when booking her surfing locations. “I made sure the hosts when you have people like this.” had some sort of reputation or voucher or something,” she
“
45"
!"#$"%&'(%&)$*+"#$ ,"-./&)"%012"3 is your best friend on campus! For only $8.00 per quarter (included as an option on your tuition bill) you can have access to a licensed attorney!
www.studentlegalrights.org
A unique gathering place of students and community members Social JustICE s Fair TradE s Local Art & Music s Spoken Word Musicians Open Stage Reader’s Choice Friendly Service
50 South Court St. Suite D
Awarded Best Coffee House In Ohio By Ohio Magazine
We can help with: UÊ UÊ UÊ UÊ
Landlord/tenant issues Consumer problems (car issues, fraud, contracts, etc.) Legal problems in Athens County Legal advice and education (see our website for limitations on our services)
(above College Bookstore)
(740) 594-8093
www.donkeycoffee.com